[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17673]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 20, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 94-55; Notice 1]
Receipt of Petition for Determination That Nonconforming 1994
Volkswagen Golf III Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for determination that
nonconforming 1994 Volkswagen Golf III 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
1994 Volkswagen Golf III 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 August 19,
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 Street 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 49 U.S.C. 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 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 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 modified to conform to all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Petitions for eligibility determinations 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 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
No. R-90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1994 Volkswagen
Golf III passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United
States. The vehicle which J.K. believes is substantially similar is the
1994 Volkswagen Golf III 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 1994 Volkswagen Golf III 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 1994 Volkswagen Golf III, 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
1994 Volkswagen Golf III 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 Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel
Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Door Strength,
216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel
System Integrity, 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
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the
driver.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a
seat belt warning buzzer, wired to the seatbelt latch; (b) installation
of a passive restraint system consisting of door-anchored automatic
belts and a knee bolster. The petitioner notes that the non-U.S.
certified 1994 Volkswagen Golf III is supplied with mounting points and
bolt holes for the installation of this equipment and that no
structural changes are necessary.
Additionally, the petitioner states that bumper shocks must be
installed on the non-U.S. certified 1994 Volkswagen Golf III to comply
with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581. The petitioner
further notes that it may be necessary to install a U.S.-model bumper
cover on some vehicles to accommodate the marker lights.
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., 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 14, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-17673 Filed 7-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
