96-15525. Decision That Nonconforming 1985 Audi 200 Quattro Passenger Cars are Eligible for Importation  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 31217]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-15525]
    
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    [Docket No. 96-34; Notice 2]
    
    
    Decision That Nonconforming 1985 Audi 200 Quattro Passenger Cars 
    are Eligible for Importation
    
    AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
    
    ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1985 Audi 200 
    Quattro passenger cars are eligible for importation.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: This notice announces the decision by NHTSA that 1985 Audi 200 
    Quattro passenger cars not originally manufactured to comply with all 
    applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for 
    importation into the United States because they are substantially 
    similar to a vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and 
    sale in the United States and certified by its manufacturer as 
    complying with the safety standards (the 1985 Audi 5000S Turbo), and 
    they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.
    
    DATES: This decision is effective as of June 19, 1996.
    
    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) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(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. 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.
        Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
    (Registered Importer 90-009) petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1987 
    Audi 200 Quattro passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
    United States. NHTSA published notice of the petition on April 5, 1996 
    (61 FR 15334) to afford an opportunity for public comment. The reader 
    is referred to that notice for a thorough description of the petition.
        One comment was received in response to the notice of the petition, 
    from Volkswagen of America, Inc. (``Volkswagen''), the United States 
    representative of Audi A.G., the vehicle's manufacturer. In this 
    comment, Volkswagen stated that vehicle identification number (VIN) 
    assigned to the specific vehicle that the petitioner seeks to import 
    identifies that vehicle as a 1985 Audi 200 Quattro. Volkswagen further 
    stated that in the 1985 model year, it imported into the United States 
    a front wheel drive vehicle (the Audi 5000S Turbo) that was built on 
    the same platform as the Audi 200 Quattro (all wheel drive) that was 
    sold in Europe for the same model year. After being apprised of this 
    comment, the petitioner acknowledged that the petition was in error, 
    and that Volkswagen properly identified the vehicle's model year. In 
    view of this correction, this notice identifies the vehicle that is the 
    subject of the petition as the ``1985 Audi 200 Quattro,'' and the 
    substantially similar comparison vehicle as the ``1985 Audi 5000S 
    Turbo.''
        Volkswagen's only other comment was that the petition properly 
    identified the standards to which the vehicle would have to be 
    conformed to be eligible for importation into the United States. No 
    other comments were received in response to the notice. Based on its 
    review of the information submitted by the petitioner, NHTSA has 
    decided to grant the petition.
    
    Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles
    
        The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final decision must 
    indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate vehicle 
    eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for entry. 
    VSP-160 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles 
    admissible under this notice of final decision.
    
    Final Decision
    
        Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides 
    that a 1985 Audi 200 Quattro is substantially similar to a 1985 Audi 
    5000S Turbo originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
    the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and is 
    capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal 
    motor vehicle safety standards.
    
        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: June 13, 1996.
    Marilynne Jacobs,
    Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
    [FR Doc. 96-15525 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
6/19/1996
Published:
06/19/1996
Department:
Transportation Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1985 Audi 200 Quattro passenger cars are eligible for importation.
Document Number:
96-15525
Dates:
This decision is effective as of June 19, 1996.
Pages:
31217-31217 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 96-34, Notice 2
PDF File:
96-15525.pdf