[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 56 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11674-11676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6831]
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[[Page 11675]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-23; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1986 Volkswagen Golf Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1986 Volkswagen Golf 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 1986
Volkswagen Golf 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 April 22, 1996.
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 a.m. to 4 p.m.]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
George Entwistle, 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 Traffic and Motor Vehicle 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. Sec. 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.
J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1986 Volkswagen Golf
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The
vehicle which J.K. believes is substantially similar is the 1986
Volkswagen Golf that was manufactured for importation into, and sale
in, the United States and certified by its manufacturer,
Volkswagenwerke A.G., as conforming to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1986 Volkswagen Golf 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 1986 Volkswagen Golf, 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
1986 Volkswagen Golf 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, 113 Hood
Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 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 Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly
Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield
Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219
Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 301 Fuel System Integrity, 302
Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified
1986 Volkswagen Golf complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR
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 an ECE symbol on the brake failure
indicator lamp; (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 headlamps and front
sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies which
incorporate rear sidemarkers; (c) 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: replacement of the passenger side
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
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. 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: installation of a seat
belt warning buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped
with shoulder and lap belts in all outboard seating positions and with
a lap belt in the rear center seating position that are identical to
those found on its U.S. certified counterpart.
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.,
[[Page 11676]]
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: March 18, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-6831 Filed 3-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
