[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67981-67982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32591]
[[Page 67981]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-4803]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming
1988-1989 Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are
Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1988-1989 Volkswagen Transporter multi-purpose passenger vehicles
(MPVs) 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 1988-
1989 Volkswagen Transporter MPVs 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 8,
1999.
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. Sec. 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
1988-1989 Volkswagen Transporter MPVs are eligible for importation into
the United States. The vehicles which Champagne believes are
substantially similar are 1988-1989 Volkswagen Vanagon MPVs that were
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and
certified by their manufacturer, Volkswagenwerke, A.G., as conforming
to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared 1988-1989
Volkswagen Transporters to 1988-1989 Volkswagen Vanagons, 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 1988-1989 Volkswagen Transporters, as originally
manufactured, conform to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards in
the same manner as 1988-1989 Volkswagen Vanagons, or are capable of
being readily altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that 1988-1989 Volkswagen
Transporters are identical to 1988-1989 Volkswagen Vanagons 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, 119 New Pneumatic Tires
for Motor Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control
Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 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, 212 Windshield
Retention, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of
Interior Materials.
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 from kilometers to miles per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies that
incorporate headlamps with DOT markings; (b) installation of U.S.-model
front and rear sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) installation of
U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.
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. 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. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
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. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with
combination lap and shoulder restraints that adjust by means of an
automatic retractor and release by means of a single push button at
both front designated seating positions, with combination lap and
shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push button at
both rear outboard designated seating positions, and with a lap 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 also states that a vehicle identification number
plate
[[Page 67982]]
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 Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., 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 2, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-32591 Filed 12-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
