[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29937-29938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14089]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5733]
Notice ofReceipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1995-1998 Toyota Avalon Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1995-1998 Toyota Avalon 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
1995-1998 Toyota Avalon 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 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 July 6, 1999.
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 9 am to 5
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. 30115, and of
[[Page 29938]]
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 Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether non-U.S. certified 1995-
1998 Toyota Avalon passenger cars are eligible for importation into the
United States. The vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially
similar are 1995-1998 Toyota Avalon passenger cars that were
manufactured for 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
1995-1998 Toyota Avalon 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.
J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1995-1998 Toyota Avalon 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 1995-
1998 Toyota Avalon passenger cars 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, 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,
301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1995-
1998 Toyota Avalon 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 the ECE warning 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 U.S.-
model high mounted stop lamp.
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 in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: Installation of a relay in
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
seat belt warning buzzer, wired to the driver's seat belt latch; (b)
replacement of the driver's and passenger's side air bags and knee
bolsters with U.S.-model components if the vehicle is not already so
equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with
combination lap and shoulder restraints that are self-tensioning and
release by means of a single push button at both front and both rear
outboard designated seating positions, and with a lap belt in the rear
center designated seating position.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of
reinforcing beams if the vehicle is not already so equipped.
The petitioner states that a vehicle identification number plate
must be affixed to all non-U.S. certified 1995-1998 Toyota Avalon
passenger cars near the left windshield post and a reference and
certification label must be added in the left front door post area to
meet the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565. The petitioner also states
that the vehicles will be inspected prior to importation and that
markings will be added, if necessary, to meet the requirements of the
Theft Prevention Standard at 49 CFR part 541.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., 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: May 28, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-14089 Filed 6-2-99; 8:45 am]
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