[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3940-3941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1839]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-03; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1987 and 1988 Toyota Van Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible 
for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1987 and 1988 Toyota Van multipurpose 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 1987 
and 1988 Toyota Van MPVs 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 February 26, 
1997.

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.
    J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer 
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1987 and 1988 Toyota 
Vans are eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles 
which J.K. believes are substantially similar are the 1987 and 1988 
Toyota Vans that were manufactured for importation into, and sale in, 
the United States and certified by their manufacturer, Toyota Motor 
Corporation, as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1987 and 1988 Toyota Vans to their U.S. certified counterpart, and 
found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1987 and 1988 Toyota Vans, 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 1987 
and 1988 Toyota Vans 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, 113  Hood Latch Systems, 116  Brake Fluid, 119  New 
Pneumatic Tires, 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, 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 non-U.S. certified 1987 and 1988 
Toyota Vans 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 lamp; (b) replacement of the speedometer/odometer with one 
calibrated in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108  Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front 
sidemarker lights; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies 
which incorporate rear sidemarker lights; (c) installation of a high 
mounted stop lamp assembly.
    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 and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
    Standard No. 118  Power Window Systems: Installation of a relay in 
the power window system so that the window transport is inoperative 
when the ignition is switched off.
    Standard No. 120  Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 208  Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a seat 
belt warning buzzer, wired to the seat belt latch. The petitioner 
states that the vehicles are equipped with lap and shoulder belts in 
the front and rear outboard seating positions, and with a lap belt in 
the rear center seating position.
    The petitioner also states that a VIN plate must be installed on 
the vehicles so that it can be read from outside the left windshield 
pillar, and a VIN reference label must be installed on the edge of the 
door or latch post nearest the driver to meet the requirements of 49 
CFR part 565.
    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

[[Page 3941]]

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: January 21, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-1839 Filed 1-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P