[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37950-37952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18468]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-039; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser 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 
1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 
are eligible for importation.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety

[[Page 37951]]

Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1990-1996 
Toyota Landcruiser 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 August 14, 
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 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

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), 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, 
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) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser MPVs are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially 
similar are the 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers 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 
1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers 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.
    Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers, 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 1990-
1996 Toyota Landcruisers 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, 112 Headlamp Concealment Devices, 113 Hood 
Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Motor 
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, 209 Seat Belt 
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield 
Retention, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1990-
1996 Toyota Landcruisers comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 
CFR part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicles 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 a noncomplying symbol on the brake 
failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp; 
(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.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the passenger side 
convex rearview mirror.
    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: Rewiring of the power window 
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is 
switched off.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other 
Than Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's position, or a belt webbing 
actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor; (b) 
installation of an ignition switch actuated seat belt warning light and 
buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver's side air bag and knee bolster 
(on 1995 models) with U.S.-model components; (d) replacement of the 
driver's and passenger's side air bags and knee bolsters (on 1996 
models) with U.S.-model components. The petitioner states that non-U.S. 
certified 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers are equipped with a combination 
lap and shoulder restraint that adjusts by means of an automatic 
retractor and releases by means of a single push button at each front 
designated seating position, with a combination lap and shoulder 
restraint that releases by means of a single push button at each rear 
outboard designated seating position, and with a lap belt in the rear 
center designated seating position.
    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.
    The petitioner states that a vehicle identification number (VIN) 
plate must be installed on non-U.S. certified 1990-1996 Toyota 
Landcruisers to comply with 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

[[Page 37952]]

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: July 9, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-18468 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P