[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 180 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48195-48196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23055]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-77; Notice 1]


Cantab Motors, Ltd.; Receipt of Application for Decision of 
Inconsequential Noncompliance

    Cantab Motors, Ltd. (Cantab) of Purcellville, Virginia, had 
determined that some of its vehicles fail to comply with the automatic 
restraint system 

[[Page 48196]]
requirements of 49 CFR 571.208, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 
(FMVSS) No. 208, ``Occupant Crash Protection,'' and has filed an 
appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573, ``Defect and 
Noncompliance Reports.'' Cantab has also applied to be exempted from 
the notification and remedy requirements of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301--
``Motor Vehicle Safety'' on the basis that the noncompliance is 
inconsequential to motor vehicle safety.
    This notice of receipt of an application is published under 49 
U.S.C. 30118 and 30120 and does not represent any agency decision or 
other exercise of judgment concerning the merits of the application.
    Paragraph S4.1.4 of FMVSS No. 208 requires that vehicles 
manufactured on or after September 1, 1989, be equipped with a 
restraint system at each front outboard designated seating position 
that meets the standard's frontal crash protection requirements by 
means that require no action by vehicle occupants. This type of system 
is referred to as an automatic restraint system.
    The agency granted an exemption for Cantab to manufacture vehicles 
without automatic restraints between May 16, 1990 and May 1, 1993. 
Cantab imported and manufactured nine vehicles without automatic 
restraint systems during this time period. However, after the exemption 
had expired, Cantab imported and manufactured nine more vehicles 
without automatic restraint systems. Of these nine vehicles, seven 
entered the U.S. during 1994 and two in 1995. These vehicles all meet 
the requirements of Standard No. 208 prior to the implementation of 
automatic restraint requirements. Cantab has subsequently applied for 
an exemption from the automatic restraint requirements for this type of 
vehicle. Notice of receipt of its application was published on July 14, 
1995 [60 FR 36328].
    Cantab supports its application for inconsequential noncompliance 
with the following:

    [Cantab] submits that, during the entire time period subsequent 
to its initial grant of exemption in May of 1990, it has imported 
and manufactured a total of eighteen cars. Nine of these were 
imported during the period of exemption, nine subsequent to its 
lapsing and prior to [Cantab's] submission of a second application 
for exemption. Each of these eighteen cars were identically 
constructed to meet all applicable FMVSS, including those of FMVSS 
208 prior to implementation of the automatic restraint requirements. 
During this time, [Cantab] has made substantial progress in the 
development of a dual air bag system and expects to have it 
installed and operative within a year.
    [Cantab] has previously suggested to NHTSA in its [May 10, 1995] 
petition for exemption, the unusual nature of its vehicles--cars 
driven by enthusiasts for pleasure, rather than daily for business 
commuting or on long trips, by people who own two or more other 
passenger cars for such purposes.
    [Cantab] respectfully suggests that its nine noncomplying cars, 
representing a minuscule proportion of the total number of motor 
vehicles sold and operated in the U.S. during the period of 1994-
1995, operated as noted above, constructed with well-proven safety 
systems, would not materially affect overall motor vehicle safety, 
and that their operation would be in the public interest and would 
be consistent with the objectives of the National Traffic and Motor 
Vehicle Safety Act.

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and 
arguments on the application of Cantab, described above. Comments 
should refer to the docket number and be submitted to: Docked Section, 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, D.C., 20509. It is requested but not required 
that six copies be submitted.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated below will be considered. The application and supporting 
materials, and all comments received after the closing date will also 
be filed and will be considered to the extent possible. When the 
application is granted or denied, the notice will be published in the 
Federal Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.
    Comment closing date: October 18, 1995.

(15 U.S.C. 1417; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8)

    Issued on: September 12, 1995.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 95-23055 Filed 9-15-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M