[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 148 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40072-40073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19366]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-080; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1996 Kia Sportage Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1996 Kia Sportage multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 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 1996 
Kia Sportage MPV 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 30, 
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. 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.
    LPC of New York, Inc., of Ronkonkoma, New York (``LPC'') 
(Registered Importer 96-100) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1996 Kia Sportage MPVs are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicle which LPC believes is substantially similar is the 
1996 Kia Sportage MPV 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 1996 Kia Sportage MPV 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.
    LPC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that the non-U.S. certified 1996 Kia Sportage MPV, 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 
1996 Kia Sportage MPV is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 
with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 102 Transmission Shift 
Lever Sequence * * *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 
Brake Hoses, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake 
Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles 
other than Passenger Cars, 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles 
other than Passenger Cars, 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, 208 Occupant 
Crash Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly 
Anchorages, 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.
    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 the 
appropriate symbols on the brake failure, parking brake, and seat belt 
warning lamps; (b) placement of the letters ``KM'' on the speedometer/
odometer display, to indicate that this component is calibrated in 
kilometers per hour.
    Standard No. 108  Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies; (b) 
installation of U.S.-model taillamps; (c) installation of a high 
mounted stop lamp.
    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.
    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.

[[Page 40073]]

    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 25, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-19366 Filed 7-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P