[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19861]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 15, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 94-60; Notice 1]
Receipt of Petition for Determination that Nonconforming 1994
Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifogolio Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for determination that
nonconforming 1994 Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio 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 Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio 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 September 14,
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 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, Inc. of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1994 Alfa
Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio passenger cars are eligible for importation into
the United States. The vehicle which J.K. believes is substantially
similar is the 1994 Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio that was manufactured
for importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by
its manufacturer, Alfa Lancia Industriale, as conforming to all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1994 Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio 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 Alfa Romeo 164
Quadrifoglio, was 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 Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio 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 Washington 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 sealed beam headlamps and
front sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp lenses 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.
Standrd 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. 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 Window Systems: rewiring of 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 seat belt latch; (b)
installation of knee bolsters to augment the vehicle's air bag based
passive restraint system, which otherwise conforms to the standard.
Additionally, the petitioner states that bumper shocks, and, in
some instances, reinforcement bars must be added to the non-U.S.
certified 1994 Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio 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: August 9, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-19861 Filed 8-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M