[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 31217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15525]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-34; Notice 2]
Decision That Nonconforming 1985 Audi 200 Quattro Passenger Cars
are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1985 Audi 200
Quattro passenger cars are eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the decision by NHTSA that 1985 Audi 200
Quattro passenger cars not originally manufactured to comply with all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for
importation into the United States because they are substantially
similar to a vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and
sale in the United States and certified by its manufacturer as
complying with the safety standards (the 1985 Audi 5000S Turbo), and
they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.
DATES: This decision is effective as of June 19, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(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. 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) petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1987
Audi 200 Quattro passenger cars are eligible for importation into the
United States. NHTSA published notice of the petition on April 5, 1996
(61 FR 15334) to afford an opportunity for public comment. The reader
is referred to that notice for a thorough description of the petition.
One comment was received in response to the notice of the petition,
from Volkswagen of America, Inc. (``Volkswagen''), the United States
representative of Audi A.G., the vehicle's manufacturer. In this
comment, Volkswagen stated that vehicle identification number (VIN)
assigned to the specific vehicle that the petitioner seeks to import
identifies that vehicle as a 1985 Audi 200 Quattro. Volkswagen further
stated that in the 1985 model year, it imported into the United States
a front wheel drive vehicle (the Audi 5000S Turbo) that was built on
the same platform as the Audi 200 Quattro (all wheel drive) that was
sold in Europe for the same model year. After being apprised of this
comment, the petitioner acknowledged that the petition was in error,
and that Volkswagen properly identified the vehicle's model year. In
view of this correction, this notice identifies the vehicle that is the
subject of the petition as the ``1985 Audi 200 Quattro,'' and the
substantially similar comparison vehicle as the ``1985 Audi 5000S
Turbo.''
Volkswagen's only other comment was that the petition properly
identified the standards to which the vehicle would have to be
conformed to be eligible for importation into the United States. No
other comments were received in response to the notice. Based on its
review of the information submitted by the petitioner, NHTSA has
decided to grant the petition.
Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles
The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final decision must
indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate vehicle
eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for entry.
VSP-160 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles
admissible under this notice of final decision.
Final Decision
Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides
that a 1985 Audi 200 Quattro is substantially similar to a 1985 Audi
5000S Turbo originally manufactured for importation into and sale in
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, and is
capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal
motor vehicle safety standards.
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: June 13, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-15525 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]
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