[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42157-42158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20522]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-048; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1990-1994, 1996 and 1997 Saab 900 SE Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1990-1994, 1996 and 1997 Saab 900 SE passenger cars are eligible for 
importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
1990-1994, 1996, and 1997 Saab 900 SE 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 September 4, 
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. 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

[[Page 42158]]

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 
1990-1994, 1996, and 1997 Saab 900 SE passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which Champagne 
believes are substantially similar are the 1990-1994, 1996, and 1997 
Saab 900 SE 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 
1990-1994, 1996, and 1997 Saab 900 SE 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.
    Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1990-1994, 1996, and 1997 Saab 900 
SE 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 1990-
1994, 1996, and 1997 Saab 900 SE passenger cars are identical to their 
U.S. certified counterparts 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, 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, 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-
1994, 1996 and 1997 Saab 900 SE passenger cars comply with the Bumper 
Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that non-U.S. certified 1990-1994, 1996 
and 1997 Saab 900 SE 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 a noncomplying symbol on the brake 
failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp 
that displays 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.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the convex 
passenger side 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. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's positions, 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 on vehicles that are so-equipped if these are not 
U.S.-model components. (The petitioner states that the 1990 Saab 900 SE 
has no air bags and that the 1991 through 1993 models are equipped with 
driver's side air bags alone.) The petitioner states that the vehicles 
are also 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 in each front designated seating position, with a 
combination lap and shoulder restraint that releases by means of a 
single push button in each rear outboard designated seating position, 
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.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number 
plate that meets the requirements of 49 CFR part 565 will be affixed to 
the non-U.S. certified Saab 900 SE passenger cars.
    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: July 30, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-20522 Filed 8-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-U