[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42156-42157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20521]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-049; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1988-1989 Audi 80 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1988-1989 Audi 80 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 decision that 1988-
1989 Audi 80 passenger cars 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 September 4,
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. 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. 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) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1988-1989 Audi 80 passenger cars are eligible for importation into the
United States. The vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially
similar are 1988-1989 Audi 80 passenger cars that were manufactured for
importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by their
manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
1988-1989 Audi 80 passenger cars to their U.S. certified counterpart,
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 1988-1989 Audi 80 passenger cars,
as originally manufactured, conform to many Federal motor vehicle
safety standards in the same manner as their U.S. certified
counterparts, or are
[[Page 42157]]
capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1988-
1989 Audi 80 passenger cars are identical to their U.S. certified
counterparts 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, 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
Resistance 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.
Petitioner also contends that non-U.S. certified 1988-1989 Audi 80
passenger cars 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
that displays the appropriate symbol; (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 sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c)
installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies; (d) installation of a
high mounted stop lamp.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the convex
passenger side rearview mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of
either 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 lamp
and buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicles 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. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of
reinforcing beams.
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 also states that a vehicle identification number
plate must be affixed to non- U.S. certified 1988-1989 Audi 80
passenger cars to meet the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on non-U.S.
certified 1988-1989 Audi 80 passenger cars 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, 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 30, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-20521 Filed 8-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
