[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27600]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: November 8, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 94-89; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet Convertible Passenger Cars Are Eligible
for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet convertible passenger cars are eligible
for importation.
SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that a 1990
Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet convertible that was not originally
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards is eligible for importation into the United States because
(1) it is substantially similar to a vehicle that was originally
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and
that was certified by its manufacturer as complying with the safety
standards, and (2) it is capable of being readily altered to conform to
the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is December 8,
1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington,
DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4 pm]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section
108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Act (the
Act)), 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 (formerly section 114 of the
Act), 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.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to
decide whether 1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet convertible passenger cars
are eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicle which
Wallace believes is substantially similar is the 1990 Porsche 944 S2
Cabriolet convertible that was manufactured for importation into, and
sale in, the United States and certified by its manufacturer as
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet convertible to its U.S.
certified counterpart, and found the two vehicles to be substantially
similar with respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet
convertible, as originally manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor
vehicle safety standards in the same manner as its U.S. certified
counterpart, or is capable of being readily altered to conform to those
standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified
1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet convertible is identical to its U.S.
certified counterpart with respect to compliance with Standards Nos.
102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence . . . ., 103 Defrosting and
defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105
Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109
New Pneumatic Tires, 112 Headlamp Concealment Devices, 113 Hood Latch
Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power-Operated Window Systems, 124
Accelerator Control 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, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat
Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps, 212
Windshield Retention, 214 Side Door Strength, 216 Roof Crush
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity,
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) Substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure
indicator lamp; (b) recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from
kilometers to miles per hour, or replacement of the speedometer/
odometer with the U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) replacement of the headlamp assemblies with the U.S.-
model component and installation of U.S.-model retaining rings and
wiring harness; (b) installation of a high mounted stop lamp.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: required warning statement must
be permanently etched onto the face of the passenger side rearview
mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the ignition switch.
Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the
driver.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Replacement of the
driver's seat belt latch with one containing a seat belt warning
microswitch and installation of a seat belt warning system; (b)
installation of a U.S.-model passive restraint system. The petitioner
states that the modifications necessary to install such a restraint
system include replacement of the steering wheel with a U.S.-model
component, installation of a control unit with wiring harness and
contact support, installation of two vehicle impact sensors and
driver's and passenger's side air bags, and replacement of the
dashboard with one that incorporates driver's and passenger's side knee
bolsters. The petitioner further states the non-U.S. certified 1990
Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet convertible is designed so that an air bag
system can be readily installed, without the need for structural
modifications. The petitioner also notes that the non-U.S. certified
1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet convertible is equipped with Type II seat
belts in all four seating positions, and that it complies with the
standard's requirements for rear seating positions.
Additionally, the petitioner states that U.S.-model shock absorbers
must be installed behind the front and rear bumpers to comply with the
Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Station, 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: November 2, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-27600 Filed 11-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
