Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 2012 McLaren MP4[12C] Passenger Cars are Eligible for Importation |
|---|
Topics: McLaren MP4-12C
|
Claude H. Harris
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
March 3, 2014
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11869-11871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04563]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0004; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming
2012 McLaren MP4[12C] Passenger Cars are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Receipt of petition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that
nonconforming 2012 McLaren MP4[12C] passenger cars that were not
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), are eligible for importation into the
United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles that
were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that
were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety
standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 2012 McLaren MP4[12C]) and
they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 2, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001
Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: 202-493-2251
Instructions: Comments must be written in the English language, and
be no greater than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to
the length of necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are
submitted in hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change
[[Page 11870]]
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
How to Read Comments submitted to the Docket: You may read the
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given
above. You may also view the documents from the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the
dockets. The docket ID number and title of this notice are shown at the
heading of this document notice. Please note that even after the
comment closing date, we will continue to file relevant information in
the Docket as it becomes available. Further, some people may submit
late comments. Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically search
the Docket for new material.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Stevens, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5308).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS shall be
refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that
the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor vehicle
originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United
States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of the same model year as
the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, and is capable of being
readily altered to conform to all applicable FMVSS.
Petitions for eligibility decisions 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 decides, 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 decision in
the Federal Register.
J.K. Technologies, LLC. of Baltimore, Maryland (Registered Importer
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 2012
McLaren MP4[12C] passenger cars are eligible for importation into the
United States. The vehicles which J.K. Technologies believes are
substantially similar are 2012 McLaren MP4[12C] passenger cars that
were manufactured for sale in the United States and certified by their
manufacturer as conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
The petitioner claims that it compared non-U.S. certified 2012
McLaren MP4[12C] passenger cars to their U.S.-certified counterparts,
and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to
compliance with most FMVSS.
J.K. Technologies submitted information with its petition intended
to demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2012 McLaren MP4[12C] passenger
cars, as originally manufactured, conform to many FMVSS in the same
manner as their U.S. certified counterparts, or are capable of being
readily altered to conform to those standards. Specifically, the
petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 2012 McLaren MP4[12C]
passenger cars are identical to their U.S. certified counterparts with
respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever
Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect, 103
Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and
Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch System, 116 Motor
Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof
Panel Systems, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 126 Electronic
Stability Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 138 Tire
Pressure Monitoring Systems, 202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering Control
Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door
Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies,
210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side
Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone
Intrusion, 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, 301 Fuel System
Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
The petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: replacement of the
instrument cluster with a U.S.-model component and reprogramming the
vehicle computer.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: replacement of the headlamps, front and rear side marker
lamps, and tail lamps with U.S.-model components and reprogramming the
vehicle computer to activate necessary systems.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles with a
GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less: installation of a tire
and rim information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: replacement of the passenger
side rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component or inscription of the
required warning statement on the face of that mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention:
reprogramming the vehicle computer to activate the key warning system.
Standard No. 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact: inspection
of each vehicle for the presence of compliant ``A'' pillar airbags to
verify compliance with the standard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: The petitioner states
that the vehicles meet the standard, and are equipped with all
components needed to meet the standard's advanced airbag requirements.
However, due to varying world market regulations each vehicle must be
inspected for compliance with the standard. For example, the presence
of knee bolster airbags and seat belt warning systems must be
confirmed, and if not present, installed or modified to comply.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: inspection of each vehicle
for the presence of compliant ``A'' pillar airbags and to verify
compliance with the standard.
Standard No. 401 Interior Trunk Release: installation of U.S.-model
interior trunk release components.
The petitioner states that the bumpers and bumper support structure
are identical to that of the U.S. certified model. However, the bumper
reinforcements and brackets must be inspected to ensure that the
correct components were installed prior to importation. If not, they
must be replaced with U.S.-model components to comply with 49 CFR part
581.
The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post to
meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
Because the subject petition covers nonconforming vehicles likely
to have been manufactured on or after September 1, 2006, compliance
with the
[[Page 11871]]
advanced air bag requirements of FMVSS No. 208 is of significant
concern to the agency. NHTSA is therefore particularly interested in
comments regarding the ability of a Registered Importer to readily
alter the subject vehicles to fully meet the driver and front outboard
passenger frontal crash protection and child passenger protection
requirements of FMVSS No. 208. The following is a partial listing of
the components that may be affected:
a. Driver's frontal air bag module
b. Passenger frontal air bag module
c. Passenger frontal air bag cover
d. Knee air bags
e. Knee bolsters
f. Passenger outboard frontal seat belt system
g. Driver and front outboard seat assemblies including seat tracks and
internal seat components
h. Steering wheel components, including the clock spring assembly, the
steering column, and all connecting components
i. Instrument panel
j. Instrument panel support structure (i.e. cross beam)
k. Occupant sensing and classification systems, including sensors and
processors
l. Restraint control modules
m. Passenger air bag status indicator light system, including related
display components and wiring
n. Wiring harnesses between the restraint control module, occupant
classification system and restraint system components
o. Control system computer software and firmware
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated above will be considered, and will be available for
examination in the docket at the above addresses both before and after
that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the closing
date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated below.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2014-04563 Filed 2-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P