[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 223 (Monday, November 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28654]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 94-101; Notice 1]

 

Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1991 Toyota 
Land Cruiser Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1991 Toyota Land Cruiser multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 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 a 1991 
Toyota Land Cruiser MPV 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 altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is December 21, 
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. Sec. 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 
1991 Toyota Land Cruiser MPVs are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicle which Champagne believes is substantially 
similar is the 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser MPV that was manufactured for 
importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by its 
manufacturer, Toyota Motor Corporation, as conforming to all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that is carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser MPV 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.
    Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser MPV, 
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 altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified 
1991 Toyota Land Cruiser MPV 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 Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 113 Hood Latch 
Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars, 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, 219 Windshield Zone 
Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is 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 an ECE 
symbol on the brake failure indicator lamp;
    (b) Installation of a seat belt warning lamp;
    (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 which 
incorporate sealed beam headlamps;
    (b) Installation of U.S.-model front and rear sidemarker/reflector 
assemblies;
    (c) Installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror, which is convex but lacks the required warning 
statement.
    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 
switched off.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles Other Than 
Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection:
    (a) Installation of 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 claims that the non-U.S. certified 1991 Toyota Land 
Cruiser MPV is equipped with occupant restraints at each designated 
seating position that are identical to those found in its U.S. 
certified counterpart. These consist of combination lap shoulder belts 
which adjust by means of an automatic locking retractor in the two 
front seating positions and in the two outboard rear seating positions 
and a lap belt that adjusts by means of a manual adjusting device in 
the rear center seating position.
    Standard No. 214 Side Door Strength: 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.
    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: November 15, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-28654 Filed 11-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M