[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18660-18661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8962]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-24; Notice 1]
Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1994 Porsche
964 Turbo Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1994 Porsche 964 Turbo 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 decision that a 1994
Porsche 964 Turbo 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.
DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 12, 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: George Entwistle, 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.
Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer R-90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to
decide whether 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo passenger cars are eligible for
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Wallace believes
is substantially similar is the 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo. Wallace has
submitted information indicating that the 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo was
certified as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards and was offered for sale in the United States.
The petitioner contends that it carefully compared the 964 and the
911 Turbos, and found the two models to be substantially similar with
respect to compliance with most applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo, as originally
manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards
in the same manner as the 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo that was offered for
sale in the United States, or is capable of being readily altered to
conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo
is identical to the certified 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo with respect to
compliance with [[Page 18661]] 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 Impact
Protection, 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 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 hours.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies; (b)
installation of U.S.-model turn signal lenses; (c) installation of a
high mounted stop lamp.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Inscription of the required
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning
buzzer.
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. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a
safety belt warning system and a microswitch in the driver's seat belt
latch. The petitioner states that the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo is
equipped with a passive restraint system consisting of driver and
passenger side air bags and knee bolsters that are identical to those
found on the U.S. certified 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo. The petitioner also
states that all four seating positions in the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo
are equipped with Type 2 seat belts that comply with the standard.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo
must be equipped with front and rear bumper shocks 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: April 6, 1995.
Marilynne E. Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-8962 Filed 6-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M