Determination That Nonconforming 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No. 94-17; Notice 2]

Determination That Nonconforming 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC

Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of determination by the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) that nonconforming 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC

passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the determination by NHTSA that 1990

Mercedes-Benz 500SEC passenger cars not originally manufactured to

comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are

eligible for importation into the United States because they are

substantially similar to a vehicle originally manufactured for

importation into and sale in the United States and certified by its

manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S. certified

version of the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC), and they are capable of

being readily modified to conform to the standards.

DATES: The determination is effective May 25, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Under section 108(c)(3)(A)(1) of the National Traffic and Motor

Vehicle Safety Act (the Act), 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3)(A)(i), a motor

vehicle that was not originally manufactured to conform to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards must be refused

admission into the United States on and after January 31, 1990, unless

NHTSA has determined that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to

a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and sale

in the United States, certified under section 114 of the Act, and of

the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared,

and is capable of being readily modified to conform to all applicable

Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Petitions for eligibility determinations may be submitted by either

manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to

49 CFR part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice

in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords

interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the

close of the comment period, NHTSA determines, on the basis of the

petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is

eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this determination

in the Federal Register.

Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (Registered

Importer R-90-009) petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1990 Mercedes-

Benz 500SEC passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United

States. NHTSA published notice of the petition on March 11, 1994 (59 FR

11651) to afford an opportunity for public comment. The reader is

referred to that notice for a thorough description of the petition. No

comments were received in response to the notice. Based on its review

of the information submitted by the petitioner, NHTSA has determined to

grant the petition.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles

The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final determination

must indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate

vehicle eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for

entry. VSP 66 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles

admissible under this notice of final determination.

Final Determination

Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby determines

that a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC (Model ID 126.044) not originally

manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety

standards is substantially similar to a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC

originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United

States and certified under section 114 of the National Traffic and

Motor Vehicle Safety Act, and is capable of being readily modified to

conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3)(A)(I) and (C)(ii); 49 CFR 593.8;

delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Issued on: May 11, 1994.

William A. Boehly,

Associate Administrator for Enforcement.

[FR Doc. 94-12681 Filed 5-24-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-M