[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51179-51180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25905]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-066; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen 
Beetle Sedans Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen 
Beetle sedans 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 1972-
1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle 
Sedans 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 30, 
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. 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 
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen 
Beetle Sedans are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially similar are the 
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle 
Sedan that were manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the 
United States and certified by their manufacturer, Volkswagenwerke, 
A.G., as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen 
Beetle Sedans 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 1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle 
Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle Sedans, 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 1972-
1979

[[Page 51180]]

Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle Sedans 
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, 109  
New Pneumatic Tires, 113  Hood Latch Systems, 116  Brake Fluid, 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.
    Petitioner also contends that non-U.S. certified 1972-1979 
Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Beetle Sedans 
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 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. 208  Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's seating position, 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. The petitioner also states that the vehicles are equipped 
with combination lap and shoulder restraints that adjust by means of an 
automatic retractor and release by means of a single push button in the 
front designated seating positions, and with combination lap and 
shoulder restraints that release by means of a single push button in 
the rear outboard designated seating positions.
    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.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on non-U.S. 
certified 1972-1979 Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 
Volkswagen Beetle Sedans must be reinforced, or U.S.-model bumper 
components must be installed, to comply with the Bumper Standard found 
in 49 CFR Part 581.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that a vehicle identification 
number plate must be affixed to non-U.S. certified 1972-1979 Volkswagen 
Beetle Convertibles and 1972-1977 Volkswagen Sedans to comply with 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 24, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-25905 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P