[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 173 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46900-46901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22688]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-094; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1995 Audi S6 Avant Quattro Wagons Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1995 Audi S6 Avant Quattro Wagons 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 1995 
Audi S6 Avant Quattro Wagon 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.

DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is October 7, 1996.

ADDRESS: 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. 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. 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

[[Page 46901]]

publishes this decision in the Federal Register.
    Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1995 Audi S6 Avant Quattro Wagons are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicle which Champagne believes is substantially 
similar is the 1995 Audi S6 Avant Quattro Wagon 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 1995 Audi S6 Avant Quattro Wagon 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 1995 Audi S6 Avant Quattro 
Wagon, 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 
1995 Audi S6 Avant Quattro Wagon 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, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic 
Tires, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124 Accelerator Control 
Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head 
Restraints, 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, 216 
Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 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) inscription of the word 
``Brake'' on the brake failure indicator lamp lens; (b) installation of 
a seat belt warning lamp displaying the appropriate symbol; (c) 
recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from kilometers to miles 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 front and rear sidemarker/reflector 
assemblies; (c) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies; (d) 
installation of a high mounted stop lamp.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
    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. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window 
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is 
switched off.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a 
U.S.- model seat belt in the driver's seating position, or a belt 
webbing actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor; 
(b) installation of an ignition switch actuated seat belt warning lamp 
and buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver's and passenger's side air 
bags and knee bolsters if they are not U.S.- model components. The 
petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with combination lap and 
shoulder restraints that adjust by means of an automatic retractor and 
release by means of a single push button at both front designated 
seating positions, with combination lap and shoulder restraints that 
release by means of a single push button at both rear outboard seating 
positions, and with a lap belt in the rear center designated seating 
position.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of 
reinforcing beams.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the 
evaporative emissions collection canister.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
U.S. certified 1995 Audi S6 Avant Quattro must be reinforced or 
replaced with U.S.-model components to comply with the Bumper Standard 
found in 49 CFR Part 581.
    The petitioner also states that it will replace the vehicle's 
ignition switch assembly, which has been determined to contain a 
safety-related defect and is the subject of a recall campaign (NHTSA 
Recall No. 96V017000) being conducted by the vehicle's manufacturer.
    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: August 30, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-22688 Filed 9-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P