[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