[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69583-69585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32204]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6598]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1995-1996 Audi Cabriolet Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1995-1996 Audi Cabriolet passenger cars are eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that
1995-1996 Audi Cabriolet passenger cars 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
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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 January 12,
2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400
Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 9 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.
Champagne Imports of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'')
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1995-1996 Audi Cabriolet passenger cars are eligible for importation
into the United States. The vehicles which Champagne believes are
substantially similar are 1995-1996 Audi Cabriolet passenger cars 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
1995-1996 Audi Cabriolet passenger cars 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.
Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1995-1996 Audi Cabriolet passenger
cars, 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 1995-
1996 Audi Cabriolet passenger cars 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, 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, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion,
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Petitioner states that the vehicles also comply with the Bumper
Standard found at 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: (a) Substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a noncomplying symbol on the brake
failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp
that displays the appropriate symbol; (c) recalibration of the
speedometer/odometer to show distance in miles and speed in miles per
hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies; (b)
installation of U.S.-model front and rear sidemarker/reflector
assemblies; (c) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies; (d)
installation of a high mounted stop lamp if the vehicle is not already
so equipped.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the passenger side
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer
and a warning buzzer microswitch in the steering lock assembly.
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. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a
U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's position, or a belt webbing
actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor; (b)
installation of an ignition switch actuated seat belt warning lamp and
buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver's and passenger's side air bags
and knee bolsters with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are not
already so equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicles are
equipped with combination lap and shoulder belts that adjust by means
of an automatic retractor and release by means of a single push button
at the front outboard seating positions, with combination lap and
shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push button at
the rear outboard seating positions, and with a lap belt in the rear
center designated seating position.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of
reinforcing door beams.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Installation of a rollover
valve in the fuel tank vent line.
The petitioner also states that all vehicles will be inspected
prior to importation to ensure that they are equipped with anti-theft
devices in compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard found in 49
CFR part 541 and modified if necessary.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must
be affixed to the vehicle 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 Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW,
Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 9 am to 5 pm). 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
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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: December 8, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-32204 Filed 12-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
