[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12684]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 25, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 94-42; Notice 1]

 

Receipt of Petition for Determination That Nonconforming 1993 
Jaguar Sovereign Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for determination that 
nonconforming 1993 Jaguar Sovereign 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 
1993 Jaguar Sovereign 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 June 24, 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 St., 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 section 108(c)(3)(A)(i) of the National Traffic and Motor 
Vehicle Safety Act (the Act), 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3)(A)(i), 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 on and after January 31, 1990, 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 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, Inc. of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered 
Importer R-90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1993 
Jaguar Sovereign 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. The vehicle which 
J.K. believes is substantially similar is the 1993 Jaguar Sovereign 
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and 
certified by its manufacturer, Jaguar Cars Ltd., as conforming to all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards
    The petitioner states that it has carefully compared the non-U.S.-
certified version of the Jaguar Sovereign to its U.S.-certified 
counterpart, and found the two vehicles to be substantially similar 
with respect to most applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S.-certified version of the 1993 Jaguar 
Sovereign, 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 
1993 Jaguar Sovereign is identical to its U.S.-certified counterpart 
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, 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, and 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 the buld failure modules for the about lighting systems 
with U.S.-model components.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Replacement of the passenger 
side rearview, which is convex, but lacks the required warning 
statement.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a microswitch 
and 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.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window Systems: Installation of a 
relay in the power window system so that the window transport is 
inoperative when the ignition is turned off.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
seat belt warning buzzer wired to the driver's seat belt latch; (b) 
replacement of the air bag and steering column jacket with U.S.-model 
components; (c) installation of a knee bolster to augment the vehicle's 
passive restraint system.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
U.S.-certified 1993 model Sovereign 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: 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) and (C)(ii); 49 CFR 
593.8; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: May 17, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-12684 Filed 5-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M