[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51179-51180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25905]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-066; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen
Beetle Sedans Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen
Beetle sedans are eligible for importation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1972-
1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle
Sedans 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 October 30,
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 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), 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
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen
Beetle Sedans are eligible for importation into the United States. The
vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially similar are the
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle
Sedan that were manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the
United States and certified by their manufacturer, Volkswagenwerke,
A.G., as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen
Beetle Sedans 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 1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle
Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle Sedans, 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 1972-
1979
[[Page 51180]]
Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle Sedans
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, 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, 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 1972-1979
Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle Sedans
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 front and rear sidemarker/reflector
assemblies; (c) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.
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 warning
buzzer microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a
U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's seating 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 also states that the vehicles are equipped
with combination lap and shoulder restraints that adjust by means of an
automatic retractor and release by means of a single push button in the
front designated seating positions, and with combination lap and
shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push button in
the rear outboard designated seating positions.
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.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on non-U.S.
certified 1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977
Volkswagen Beetle Sedans must be reinforced, or U.S.-model bumper
components must be installed, to comply with the Bumper Standard found
in 49 CFR Part 581.
Additionally, the petitioner states that a vehicle identification
number plate must be affixed to non-U.S. certified 1972-1979 Volkswagen
Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Sedans to comply with the
requirements of 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 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: September 24, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-25905 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
