[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56998-56999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28352]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 96-111; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1994, 1995, and 1996 Jaguar XJS Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1994, 1995, and 1996 Jaguar XJS 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 1994, 
1995, and 1996 Jaguar XJS passenger cars that were not originally 
manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards are eligible for importation into the United States because 
(1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally 
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and 
that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety 
standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform 
to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is December 5, 
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. 30141(a)(1)(A), 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, 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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas 
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1994, 1995, and 1996 Jaguar XJS passenger cars are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
Wallace believes are substantially similar are the 1994, 1995, and 1996 
Jaguar XJS passenger cars that were manufactured for importation into, 
and sale in, the United States and certified by their manufacturer as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1994, 1995, and 1996 Jaguar XJS passenger cars to their U.S. certified 
counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with 
respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1994, 1995, and 1996 Jaguar XJS 
passenger cars, as originally manufactured, conform to many Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards in the same manner as their U.S. 
certified counterparts, or are capable of being readily altered to 
conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1994, 
1995, and 1996 Jaguar XJS passenger cars are identical to their U.S. 
certified counterparts 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, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 
Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 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, 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 non-U.S. certified 1994, 
1995, and 1996 Jaguar XJS passenger cars comply with the Bumper 
Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that non-U.S. certified 1994, 1995, and 
1996 Jaguar XJS passenger cars are 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

[[Page 56999]]

lamp; (b) replacement of the speedometer/odometer with one calibrated 
in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of U.S.-model headlight assemblies and front 
sidemarkers.
    The petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1994, 1995, and 1996 
Jaguar XJS passenger cars are already equipped with conforming high 
mounted stop lamps.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Permanent etching of the required 
warning statement onto the surface of the passenger side rearview 
mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
in the steering lock assembly.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a seat 
belt warning buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicles are 
equipped with driver's and passenger's side air bags that are identical 
to those found on the vehicles' U.S.- certified counterparts. The 
petitioner also states that the vehicles are equipped with Type 2 seat 
belts in all front and rear outboard designated seating positions, and 
notes that there are no center seating positions in the vehicles.
    The petitioner also states that as required under NHTSA regulations 
on vehicle identification numbers at 49 CFR Part 565, non-U.S. 
certified 1994, 1995, and 1996 Jaguar XJS passenger cars will have 
installed 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, 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. 30141(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; 
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: October 30, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-28352 Filed 11-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P