97-18468. Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 37950-37952]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-18468]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
    [Docket No. 97-039; Notice 1]
    
    
    Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
    1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser 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 
    1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 
    are eligible for importation.
    
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    SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
    Safety
    
    [[Page 37951]]
    
    Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1990-1996 
    Toyota Landcruiser 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 August 14, 
    1997.
    
    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), 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, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
    (Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
    1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser MPVs are eligible for importation into the 
    United States. The vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially 
    similar are the 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers that were manufactured 
    for importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by 
    their manufacturer, Toyota Motor Corporation, as conforming to all 
    applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
        The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
    1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers to their U.S. certified counterparts, 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 non-U.S. certified 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers, as 
    originally manufactured, conform to many Federal motor vehicle safety 
    standards in the same manner as their U.S. certified counterparts, or 
    are capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
        Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1990-
    1996 Toyota Landcruisers are identical to their U.S. certified 
    counterparts 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, 112 Headlamp Concealment Devices, 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, 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 Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield 
    Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
    and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
        Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1990-
    1996 Toyota Landcruisers comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 
    CFR part 581.
        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; 
    (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; (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 
    convex rearview mirror.
        Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
    microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
        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 light and 
    buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver's side air bag and knee bolster 
    (on 1995 models) with U.S.-model components; (d) replacement of the 
    driver's and passenger's side air bags and knee bolsters (on 1996 
    models) with U.S.-model components. The petitioner states that non-U.S. 
    certified 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers are equipped with a combination 
    lap and shoulder restraint that adjusts by means of an automatic 
    retractor and releases by means of a single push button at each front 
    designated seating position, with a combination lap and shoulder 
    restraint that releases by means of a single push button at each rear 
    outboard designated seating position, 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 states that a vehicle identification number (VIN) 
    plate must be installed on non-U.S. certified 1990-1996 Toyota 
    Landcruisers to comply with 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
    
    [[Page 37952]]
    
    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: July 9, 1997.
    Marilynne Jacobs,
    Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
    [FR Doc. 97-18468 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
07/15/1997
Department:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) are eligible for importation.
Document Number:
97-18468
Dates:
The closing date for comments on the petition is August 14, 1997.
Pages:
37950-37952 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 97-039, Notice 1
PDF File:
97-18468.pdf