[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69585-69586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32205]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6601]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1990-1991 Toyota MR2 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1990-1991 Toyota MR2 Passenger cars 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 1990-
1991 Toyota MR2 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 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.
G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (G&K)
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1990-1991 Toyota MR2 passenger cars are eligible for importation into
the United States. The vehicles which G&K believes are substantially
similar are 1990-1991 Toyota MR2 passenger cars that were manufactured
for importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by
their manufacturer, Toyota Motor Corporation, as conforming to all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
1990-1991 Toyota MR2 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.
G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that non-U.S. certified 1990-1991 Toyota MR2 4-Door 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 1990-
1991 Toyota MR2 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, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 118
Power Window Systems, 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.
Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1990-
1991 Toyota MR2 passenger cars 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: (a) Installation of a seat
belt warning lamp that displays the required seat belt symbol; (b)
recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from kilometers to 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 sidemarkers; (c) installation of U.S.-
model taillamp assemblies; (d) installation of a high mounted stop lamp
on vehicles that are 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
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a
seat belt warning buzzer; (b) installation of a driver's side air bag
and knee bolster, 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 outboard designated
seating positions, which are the only seating positions in the vehicle.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of U.S.-model
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door beams on vehicles that are not already so equipped.
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 prior to importation, the vehicle's
vehicle identification number (VIN) will be inscribed on 14 major
vehicle parts and a theft prevention certification label will be
affixed to the vehicle to comply with the Theft Prevention Standard
found in 49 CFR part 541.
The petitioner also states that a VIN plate must be affixed to the
vehicle so that it can be read from the left windshield pillar, and a
VIN reference label must be affixed to the edge of the door or to the
latch post nearest the driver, 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: December 8, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-32205 Filed 12-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
