[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8252-8253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4042]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-3453]
Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1993 Audi 100
Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1993 Audi 100 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 a 1993
Audi 100 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 an 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 March 20, 1998.
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 10 am to
5 pm.]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTS (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.
J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1993 Audi 100 passenger
cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicle
which J.K. believes is substantially similar is the 1993 Audi 100 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 1993 Audi 100 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.
J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1993 Audi 100, 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
1993 Audi 100 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, 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
[[Page 8253]]
Anchorages, 212 Windsheld Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216
Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System
Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner contends that the vehicle complies
with the Bumper Standard found in 49 Part 581.
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 noncomplying symbol on the brake
failure indicator lamp; (b) replacement of the speedometer/odometer
with one calibrated in miles per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front
sidemarker lights; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies
which incorporate rear sidemarker lights; (c) installation of a U.S.-
model high-mounted stop light assembly.
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 key
microswitch and a warning buzzer.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window
system so that the window transport mechanism is inoperative when the
ignition is switched off.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat
belt warning buzzer, wired to the driver's seat belt latch. The
petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with driver's and
passenger's side air bags in the front outboard seating positions and
with seatbelts in all seating positions that are identical to those
found on the vehicle's U.S. certified counterpart. As described by the
petitioner, the vehicle is equipped with shoulder belts in the rear
outboard seating positions and with a lap belt in the rear center
seating position.
Additionally, the petitioner states that a vehicle identification
number 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 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: February 11, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-4042 Filed 2-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
