[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 105 (Thursday, June 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13325]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 2, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 94-46; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Determination That
Nonconforming 1988 Volkswagen Golf Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for determination that
nonconforming 1988 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 determination that a
1988 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 modified to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is July 5, 1994.
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 am to 4 pm]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under section 108(c)(3)(A)(i) of the National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act (the Act), 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3)(A)(i), 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 on and after January 31, 1990, unless
NHTSA has determined that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to
a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and sale
in the United States, certified under 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 modified to conform to all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Petitions for eligibility determinations may be submitted by either
manufacturers of 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 determines, 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 determination
in the Federal Register.
J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer
R-90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1988 Volkswagen
Golf passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United
States. The vehicle which J.K. believes is substantially similar is the
1988 Volkswagen Golf that was manufactured for important into, and sale
in, the United States and certified by its manufacturer, Volkswagenwerk
A.G., as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1988 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 1988 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 modified to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified
1988 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
Streering Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206
Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating System, 209 Seat
Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts,
Wheel Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof Crush
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity,
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being
readily modified 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 headlamp assemblies which
incorporate sealed beam headlamps and front sidemarkers; (b)
installation of U.S.--model taillamp assemblies which incorporate rear
sidemarkers; (c) installation of a high mounted stop lamp; (d)
replacement of bulb failure modules with U.S.--model components.
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 in the steering lock assembly, and a warning buzzer.
Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and
VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the
driver.
Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window Systems: installation of a
relay in the wiring for the power window system so that the window
transport is inoperative when the ignition is turned off.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat
belt warning buzzer, wired to the seatbelt latch.
Standard No. 214 Side Door Strength: installation of doorbars.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the 1988
Volkswagen Golf must be reinforced to comply with the Bumper Standard
found in 49 CFR part 581.
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 with also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated below.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) and (C)(ii); 49 CFR
593.8; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on: May 26, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-13325 Filed 6-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
