(a) Engine and vehicle manufacturers, as well as owners and operators of vehicles subject to the requirements of this part, and all other persons, must observe the provisions of this part, the provisions of the Clean Air Act, and the following provisions of 40 CFR part 1068:
(1) The exemption and importation provisions of 40 CFR part 1068, subparts C and D, apply for vehicles subject to this part 1037, except that the hardship exemption provisions of 40 CFR 1068.245, 1068.250, and 1068.255 do not apply for motor vehicles.
(2) Manufacturers may comply with the defect reporting requirements of 40 CFR 1068.501 instead of the defect reporting requirements of 40 CFR part 85.
(b) Vehicles exempted from the applicable standards of 40 CFR part 86 are exempt from the standards of this part without request. Similarly, vehicles are exempt without request if the installed engine is exempted from the applicable standards in 40 CFR part 86.
(c) The prohibitions of 40 CFR 86.1854 apply for vehicles subject to the requirements of this part. The actions prohibited under this provision include the introduction into U.S. commerce of a complete or incomplete vehicle subject to the standards of this part where the vehicle is not covered by a valid certificate of conformity or exemption.
(d) Except as specifically allowed by this part, it is a violation of section 203(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7522(a)(1)) to introduce into U.S. commerce a tractor containing an engine not certified for use in tractors; or to introduce into U.S. commerce a vocational vehicle containing a light heavy-duty or medium heavy-duty engine not certified for use in vocational vehicles. This prohibition applies especially to the vehicle manufacturer.
(e) A vehicle manufacturer that completes assembly of a vehicle at two or more facilities may ask to use as the date of manufacture for that vehicle the date on which manufacturing is completed at the place of main assembly, consistent with provisions of 49 CFR 567.4. Note that such staged assembly is subject to the provisions of 40 CFR 1068.260(c). Include your request in your application for certification, along with a summary of your staged-assembly process. You may ask to apply this allowance to some or all of the vehicles in your vehicle family. Our approval is effective when we grant your certificate. We will not approve your request if we determine that you intend to use this allowance to circumvent the intent of this part.