[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