[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36739-36740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17164]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5914]


Decision That Nonconforming 1991-1998 Honda VT600 Motorcycles Are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1991-1998 Honda 
VT600 motorcycles are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the decision by NHTSA that 1991-1998 
Honda VT600 motorcycles not originally manufactured to comply with all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for 
importation into the United States because they are substantially 
similar to vehicles originally manufactured for importation into and 
sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturer as 
complying with the safety standards (the U.S. certified version of the 
1991-1998 Honda VT600), and they are capable of being readily altered 
to conform to the standards.

DATES: This decision is effective July 7, 1999.

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.
    Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1991-
1998 Honda VT600 motorcycles are eligible for importation into the 
United States. NHTSA published notice of the petition under Docket No. 
NHTSA-98-4864 on Wednesday, December 16, 1998 (63 FR 69357) to afford 
an opportunity for public comment. The reader is referred to that 
notice for a thorough description of the petition.
    One comment was received in response to the notice of the petition, 
from American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (``Honda''), the United States 
representative of the vehicles' manufacturer. In this comment, Honda 
stated that the headlights on non-U.S. certified 1991-1998 Honda VT600 
motorcycles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 
108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment, because they 
have an asymmetrical beam for right hand traffic. Honda also stated 
that vehicle identification numbers assigned to non-U.S. certified 
1991-1998 Honda VT600 motorcycles contain only eleven digits, and 
therefore do not conform to the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
    NHTSA accorded Champagne an opportunity to respond to Honda's 
comment. In its response, Champagne stated that it will modify the 
headlights on non-U.S. certified 1991-1998 Honda VT600 motorcycles to 
comply with Standard No. 108. Additionally, Champagne stated that it 
will address the vehicle identification number issue raised by Honda by 
utilizing the eleven digit VIN assigned by the original manufacturer of 
the vehicles as a substitute for the U.S. VIN, as permitted by 49 CFR 
565.5(a).
    NHTSA believes that Champagne's response adequately addresses the 
issues that Honda has raised regarding the petition. NHTSA further 
notes that Honda has not contended that non-U.S. certified 1991-1998 
Honda VT600 motorcycles are incapable of being readily altered to 
comply with applicable motor vehicle safety standards, and that the 
modifications described by Champagne, which have been performed with 
relative ease on thousands of motor vehicles imported over the years, 
would not preclude non-U.S. certified 1991-1998 Honda VT600 motorcycles 
from being found capable of being so altered.
    NHTSA has accordingly decided to grant the petition.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles

    The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final decision must 
indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate vehicle 
eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for entry. 
VSP-294 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles 
admissible under this notice of final decision.

Final Decision

    Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides 
that non-U.S. certified 1991-1998 Honda

[[Page 36740]]

VT600 motorcycles are substantially similar to 1991-1998 Honda VT600 
motorcycles originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and are capable 
of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards.

    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: July 1, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-17164 Filed 7-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P