[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1816-1817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-855]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-01; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1991 Volkswagen Golf GT Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1991 Volkswagen Golf GT 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 1991 
Volkswagen Golf GT 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 February 22, 
1996.

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 

[[Page 1817]]
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.
    Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1991 Volkswagen Golf GT passenger cars are eligible for importation 
into the United States. The vehicle which Champagne believes is 
substantially similar is the 1991 Volkswagen Golf GT that was 
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and 
certified by its manufacturer, Volkswagenwerke A.G., as conforming to 
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1991 Volkswagen Golf GT 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.
    Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1991 Volkswagen Golf GT, 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 
1991 Volkswagen Golf GT is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 
with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 102 Transmission Shift 
Level Sequence * * *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 
Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 108 Lamps Reflective Devices and 
Associated Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 110 Tire Selection and 
Rims, 111 Rearview Mirror, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft 
Protection, 115 Vehicle Identification Number, 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 Systems, 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 Systems Integrity, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 
1991 Volkswagen Golf GT 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) replacement of the speedometer/odometer assembly 
with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of 
U.S.-model lap belts in the driver's and front passenger's seating 
positions; (b) installation of U.S.-model automatic shoulder restraints 
in the driver's and front passenger's seating positions. The petitioner 
states that the rear outboard designated seating positions are equipped 
with combination lap and shoulder restraints that release by means of a 
single push button.
    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. 3014(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; 
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: January 17, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-855 Filed 1-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M