[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48709-48710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24427]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-60; Notice 1]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming
1991 through 1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for
Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1991 through 1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400 passenger cars 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 1991
through 1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400 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 October 16,
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 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.
G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'')
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1991 through 1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400 passenger cars are eligible for
importation into the United States. The vehicles which G&K believes are
substantially similar are the 1991 through 1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400
passenger cars 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.
[[Page 48710]]
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1991-1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400 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.
G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that the non-U.S. certified 1991-1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400 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 the non-U.S. certified
1991-1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400 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, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices
and Associated Equipment, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview
Mirrors, 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, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of
Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified
1991-1996 Lexus SC300 and SC400 passenger cars 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 an ECE symbol on the brake failure
indicator lamp; (b) recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from
kilometers to miles per hour.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
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. 203 Impact Protection for the Driver From the Steering
Control System: installation of a driver's side air bag and knee
bolster identical to those installed on the vehicles' U.S.-certified
counterparts.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat
belt warning buzzer. Installation of a driver's side air bag and knee
bolster on 1991-1993 models, and installation of both a driver's and a
passenger's side air bag and knee bolster on 1994-1996 models. The
petitioner states that all air bags and knee bolsters installed will be
identical to those found on the vehicles' U.S.-certified counterparts.
The petitioner further states that the vehicles are equipped with Type
2 seat belts in both front and rear outboard designated seating
positions.
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
(VIN) plate will be installed in the vehicles 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, 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: September 9, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-24427 Filed 9-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P