[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 122 (Monday, June 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 33029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15527]



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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-40; Notice 1]
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Vector Aeromotive Corporation Receipt of Application From Federal 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208

    Vector Aeromotive Corporation of Jacksonville, Florida, has applied 
to be exempted from paragraph S4.1.4 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection. The basis of the 
application is that compliance will cause substantial economic hardship 
to a manufacturer that has tried to comply with the standard in good 
faith.
    This notice of receipt of an application is published in accordance 
with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 30113(b)(2) and does not represent 
any judgment of the agency on the merits of the application.
    Vector intends to begin production of a two-seat high performance 
sport car in September 1995 called the ``Vector Avtech SC (``Avtech''). 
Design concept specifications were developed several years ago for the 
Avtech, and a prototype shown at the Geneva Automobile Show in March 
1992. During this time, Vector produced a sports car called the Vector 
W8. This car went out of production in early 1993 after a run of 22 
vehicles, and Vector has produced no motor vehicles since.
    Vector's single largest shareholder is V'Power Corp., a Bahamian 
Corporation, which is also the controlling shareholder of Automobili 
Lamborghini S.p.A. Lamborghini, which manufactured 1,475 cars between 
1989 and 1994, was recently granted a temporary exemption from Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection (59 FR 59458). 
V'Power will provide Vector with $5.5 million in funds to finance 
Vector's proposed development schedule over the next 12 months. 
Vector's cumulative net losses in the three years preceding the filing 
of its application were approximately $12,400,000.
    Vector has received airbag development program cost estimates of 
approximately $1,500,000 from airbag suppliers. It has already spent 
$56,000 in pursuit of the project and an estimated 1000 man hours. 
Vector estimates that a year will be required in order to complete 
development, and that vehicles conforming to Standard No. 208 will be 
available in the time period June - September 1996. However, to allow 
for development problems, Vector has asked for an exemption until May 
1, 1997. In the meantime, the Avtech will be equipped ``with an active, 
three point, seat belt system that meets, or exceeds, all FMVSS 
performance requirements.''
    The applicant argues that an exemption would be in the public 
interest as its development and production ``will result in additional 
employment at the factory, vendor, dealer, and service levels.'' Its 
success ``should establish the US as a major source for ultrahigh 
performance vehicles and technology''. The Avtech will be equipped with 
``the only twelve cylinder engine offered by a US manufacturer.'' An 
exemption would be consistent with traffic safety objectives because 
the vehicle will otherwise comply with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards. In addition, the company's production will be 
limited. It estimates sales of 60 cars through the second quarter of 
1996.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the 
application described above. Comments should refer to the docket number 
and the notice 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 comment 
closing date indicated below 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 application will be published in the 
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below. Comment 
closing date: July 26, 1995.

(49 U.S.C. 30113; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50. and 
501.8)
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 95-15527 Filed 6-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P