[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7266-7267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2913]



[[Page 7266]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-006; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1993, 1994, and 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT and 3000GT VR-4 Passenger Cars 
Are Eligible for Importation

agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

action: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993, 1994, and 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT and 3000GT VR-4 passenger cars 
are eligible for importation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

summary: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1993, 
1994, and 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT and 3000GT VR-4 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 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 its 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 March 9, 1995.

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 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.
    J.K. Motors, Inc. of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered 
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1993, 1994, and 
1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT and 3000GT VR-4 passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles that J.K. believes to 
be substantially similar are the 1993, 1994, and 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT 
and 3000GT VR-4 passengers cars that were manufactured for importation 
into, and sale in, the United States and certified by their 
manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1993, 1994, and 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT and 3000GT VR-4 
passenger cars to their U.S. certified counterparts, and found those 
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 1993, 1994, and 1995 Mitsubishi 
3000GT and 3000GT VR-4 passenger cars, 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 the non-U.S. certified 
1993, 1994, and 1995 Mitsubishi 3000Gt and 3000GT VR-4 passenger cars 
are identical to their U.S. certified counterparts 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, 109  New Pneumatic Tires, 113  Hood Latch Systems, 
116  Brake Fluid, 124  Accelerator Control Systems, 201  Occupant 
Protection in Interior Impact, 202  Head Restraints. 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 Impact 
Protection, 216  Roof Crush Resistance, 219  Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
301  Fuel System Integrity, and 302  Flammability of Interior 
Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 
1993, 1994, and 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT and 3000GT VR-4 passenger cars 
comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicles 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 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 headlamps and front 
sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies which 
incorporated rear sidemarkers; (c) installations of a high mounted stop 
lamp.
    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. 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. 208  Occupant Crash Protection. (a) Installation of a 
seat belt warning buzzer, wired to the seat belt latch; (b) 
installation to knee bolsters to augment the vehicles' air bag based 
passive restraint system. The petitioner states that the 1993 models 
are equipped with a driver's side air bag, and that the 1994 and 1995 
models are equipped with both driver's and passenger's side air bags, 
all of which are identical to the air bags found on the vehicles' U.S.-
certified counterparts. [[Page 7267]] The petitioner further claims 
that the vehicles are equipped with manual lap and shoulder belts that 
have identical part numbers to those found on their U.S.-certified 
counterparts.
    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 February 1, 1995.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 95-2913 Filed 2-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M