Motor Vehicles
Manufacturers of motor vehicles and their suppliers, including
heavy-duty truck and engine builders, automobile manufacturers,
automotive and truck component suppliers, and motorcycle manufacturers,
face a variety of environmental and safety regulations applicable to
their products. Our lawyers are uniquely qualified to address those
issues from a product perspective, as well as on a statute-by-statute
basis. For example, our lawyers have direct experience in the areas of
federal and state emissions certification, vehicle safety issues under
federal motor vehicle safety standards, and parts marking, parts origin,
and corporate average fuel economy issues. Representative projects have
included:
- Advising a heavy-duty engine manufacturer on strategy associated
with obtaining federal certification for new technology engines meeting
more stringent 2007 emission standards.
- Advising an equipment supplier regarding compliance with the American Automobile Labeling Act.
- Coordinating and responding to threatened and proposed
legislation rolling back ultralow sulfur diesel fuel standards drafted
in response to 2005 hurricane disasters, by providing alternative
legislative language and meeting with appropriate congressional staff on
behalf of a heavy-duty engine and truck manufacturer.
- Obtaining an exemption from the dual fleet provisions of the
corporate average fuel economy requirements on behalf of a worldwide
automobile manufacturing company.
- Developing a comprehensive strategy for vehicle classification
for a major automobile manufacturer to maximize flexibility under fuel
economy requirements.
- Obtaining favorable interpretation letters from the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding application of federal
motor vehicle safety standards to client products.
- Representing major automobile manufacturers in investigations
into alleged safety related defects and noncompliance under the National
Traffic and Motor Vehicles Safety Act.
- Advising and counseling automotive equipment suppliers regarding
reporting requirements under the Transportation Recall Enhancement,
Accountability and Documentation Act.