[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 206 (Monday, October 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57158-57159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28570]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4548]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1989-1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1989-1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans are eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1989-
1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans that were not originally
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards are eligible for importation into the United States because
(1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and
that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety
standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform
to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is November 25,
1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400
[[Page 57159]]
Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 10 am to
5 pm]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
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 Federal motor
vehicle safety standards 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
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
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.
G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'')
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1989-1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans are eligible for importation
into the United States. The vehicles which G&K believes are
substantially similar are 1989-1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans that
were manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States
and certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
1989-1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans to their U.S. certified
counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with
respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that non-U.S. certified 1989-1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans, as
originally manufactured, conform to many Federal motor vehicle safety
standards 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 1989-
1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans are identical to their U.S.
certified counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos.
102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence * * *, 103 Defrosting and
Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105
Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices
and Associated Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch
Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant
Protection in Interior Impact, 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
Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219
Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1989-
1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans comply with the Bumper Standard
found in 49 CFR Part 581.
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: substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a noncomplying symbol on the brake
failure indicator lamp.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: inscription of the required
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror, or replacement
of that mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is
switched off.
Standard No. 203 Impact Protection for the Driver from the Steering
Control System: Petitioner states that the installation of an automatic
restraint system, as detailed below, will satisfy the requirements of
this standard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a
seat belt warning buzzer; (b) installation of driver's and passenger's
side automatic restraint systems, identical to those installed on the
vehicle's U.S. certified counterpart. The petitioner states that the
vehicles are equipped with Type II seat belts in the front and rear
outboard designated seating positions, and with a Type I seat belt in
the rear center designated seating position.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the
evaporative emissions collection canister.
The petitioner states that anti-theft devices and components on
non-U.S. certified 1989-1991 Volkswagen Golf 4-Door Sedans will be
inspected and replaced, where necessary, to comply with the Theft
Prevention Standard found in 49 CFR Part 541, and that all body parts
and panels will be inspected for conformance with the standard in
targeted areas.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to the vehicles to meet the requirements of 49
CFR Part 565.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC
20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
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 address 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: October 20, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-28570 Filed 10-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
