[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15865-15866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8759]



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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-33; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1983 Saab 900 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1983 Saab 900 passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that a 1983 
Saab 900 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 May 9, 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 for importation into and sale in the United 
States, certified under 49 U.S.C.

[[Page 15866]]

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.
    Pierre Enterprises Southeast Inc. of Fort Pierce, Florida 
(``Pierre'') (Registered Importer 96-098) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1983 Saab 900 passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Pierre believes 
is substantially similar is the 1983 Saab 900 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 1983 Saab 900 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.
    Pierre submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1983 Saab 900, 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 
1983 Saab 900 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, 111 Rearview 
Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window 
Systems, 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.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 
1983 Saab 900 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) placement of 
appropriate symbols on the brake failure, parking brake, and seat belt 
warning lamps; (b) installation of a U.S.-model speedometer/odometer 
calibrated in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies which 
incorporate sealed beam headlamps and front sidemarkers; (b) 
installation of U.S.-model taillamps.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer 
in the steering lock electrical circuit.
    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: installation of a seat 
belt warning buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped 
with seat belt assemblies identical to those found in its U.S. 
certified counterpart.
    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, S.W., 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 3, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-8759 Filed 4-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P