[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 140 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37703-37705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18045]
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[[Page 37704]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-55; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming
1992 Jaguar XJS Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1992 Jaguar XJS 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 1992
Jaguar XJS 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 August 21,
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. 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. Sec. 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 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to
decide whether 1992 Jaguar XJS passenger cars are eligible for
importation into the United Stats. The vehicle which Wallace believes
is substantially similar is the 1992 Jaguar XJS that was manufactured
for importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by
its manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1992 Jaguar XJS 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.
Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1992 Jaguar XJS, 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
1992 Jaguar XJS is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart with
respect to compliance with 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, 118 Power Window Systems, 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
1992 Jaguar XJS complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part
581.
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 hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: replacement of the headlight assemblies and the turn signal
lens assemblies. Petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 1992
Jaguar XJS is equipped with a high mounted stop lamp that complies with
the standard.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: inscription of the required
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch in the ignition switch.
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: replacement of the
upper steering column and steering wheel with U.S.-model components and
installation of a driver's side air bag and knee bolster. The
petitioner states that in all other respects, the vehicle's passive
restraint system conforms to the standard. The petitioner notes that no
modifications to electronic wiring or controls are needed because the
vehicle's passive restraint system utilizes a mechanical air bag. The
petitioner also states that factory equipped Type 2 seat belts are
installed in both the vehicle's designated seating positions.
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
[[Page 37705]]
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: July 17, 1995.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-18045 Filed 7-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M