[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8252-8253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4042]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-98-3453]


Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1993 Audi 100 
Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993 Audi 100 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 a 1993 
Audi 100 that was not originally manufactured to comply with all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for 
importation into the United States because (1) it is substantially 
similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for importation 
into an sale in the United States and that was certified by its 
manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) it is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is March 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 10 am to 
5 pm.]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTS (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. 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.
    J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer 
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1993 Audi 100 passenger 
cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicle 
which J.K. believes is substantially similar is the 1993 Audi 100 that 
was manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States 
and certified by its manufacturer as conforming to all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1993 Audi 100 to its U.S. certified counterpart, and found 
the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance 
with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1993 Audi 100, as originally 
manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards 
in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is capable of 
being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified 
1993 Audi 100 is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 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

[[Page 8253]]

Anchorages, 212 Windsheld Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 
Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System 
Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner contends that the vehicle complies 
with the Bumper Standard found in 49 Part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is 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 noncomplying symbol on the brake 
failure indicator lamp; (b) replacement of the speedometer/odometer 
with one calibrated in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front 
sidemarker lights; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies 
which incorporate rear sidemarker lights; (c) installation of a U.S.-
model high-mounted stop light assembly.
    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 key 
microswitch and a warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of the power window 
system so that the window transport mechanism is inoperative when the 
ignition is switched off.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat 
belt warning buzzer, wired to the driver's seat belt latch. The 
petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with driver's and 
passenger's side air bags in the front outboard seating positions and 
with seatbelts in all seating positions that are identical to those 
found on the vehicle's U.S. certified counterpart. As described by the 
petitioner, the vehicle is equipped with shoulder belts in the rear 
outboard seating positions and with a lap belt in the rear center 
seating position.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that a vehicle identification 
number plate must be affixed to the vehicle 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: February 11, 1998.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 98-4042 Filed 2-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M