[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 148 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40072-40073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19366]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-080; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1996 Kia Sportage 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
1996 Kia Sportage multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 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 1996
Kia Sportage MPV 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 August 30,
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 am to 4 pm]
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.
LPC of New York, Inc., of Ronkonkoma, New York (``LPC'')
(Registered Importer 96-100) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1996 Kia Sportage MPVs are eligible for importation into the United
States. The vehicle which LPC believes is substantially similar is the
1996 Kia Sportage MPV that was manufactured for importation into, and
sale in, the United States and certified by its manufacturer as
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1996 Kia Sportage MPV 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.
LPC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that the non-U.S. certified 1996 Kia Sportage MPV, 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
1996 Kia Sportage MPV 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, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake
Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles
other than Passenger Cars, 120 Tire Selection and Rims for 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, 208 Occupant
Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly
Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 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 altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) placement of the
appropriate symbols on the brake failure, parking brake, and seat belt
warning lamps; (b) placement of the letters ``KM'' on the speedometer/
odometer display, to indicate that this component is calibrated in
kilometers 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 taillamps; (c) installation of a high
mounted stop lamp.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning
buzzer in the steering lock electrical circuit.
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.
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.
[[Page 40073]]
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 25, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-19366 Filed 7-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
