Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab Trucks Manufactured for Sale in the Mexican Market Are Eligible for Importation |
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Topics: Ford F-150
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Claude H. Harris
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
February 28, 2013
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13754-13755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04721]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0162, Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab Trucks Manufactured for Sale in the Mexican
Market Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition.
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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that
2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks manufactured for sale in the Mexican
market 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
2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab truck) and they are capable of being readily
altered to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 1, 2013.
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
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: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).
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.
Mesa Auto Wholesalers of Chandler, Arizona (Mesa) (Registered
Importer No. 94-018) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
nonconforming 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks manufactured for sale in
the Mexican market are eligible for importation into the United States.
The vehicles which Mesa Auto Wholesalers believes are substantially
similar are 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks 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 2004 Ford
F-150 Crew Cab trucks manufactured for sale in the Mexican market to
their U.S.-certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be
substantially similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
Mesa submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks
manufactured for sale in the Mexican market, 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 2004 Ford F-150 Crew Cab trucks manufactured for
sale in the Mexican market 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, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118
Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems, 109
[[Page 13755]]
New Pneumatic Tires and Certain Specialty Tires, 124 Accelerator
Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 201 Occupant
Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact
Protection for the Driver From the Steering Control System, 204
Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door
Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 208 Occupant
Crash Protection, 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.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: Installation of the following U.S.-model components on
vehicles not already so equipped: (a) Headlamps; (b) tail lamps (c)
front and rear side marker lamps; and (d) a U.S.-model high-mounted
stop lamp.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning
statement on the face of the existing mirror.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation
Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles
With GVWR of 4,536 kilgrams (10,000 pounds) or Less: Installation of a
tire and rim information placard.
The petitioner states that each vehicle will be inspected prior to
importation for compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard in 49 CFR
part 541 and that anti-theft devices will be installed on all vehicles
not already so equipped.
The petitioner additionally states that a certification label must
be affixed to the driver's door jamb to meet the requirements of 49 CFR
part 567.
As previously stated, the petitioner claims that the vehicle, as
originally manufactured, complies with FMVSS No. 208 Occupant Crash
Protection. NHTSA seeks specific comments on whether the vehicle, which
is manufactured for sale in the Mexican Market, does in fact comply
with all requirements of FMVSS No. 208, including the unbelted occupant
protection requirements of this standard.
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) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8;
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on: February 22, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-04721 Filed 2-27-13; 8:45 am]
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