[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56380-56381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27241]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6340]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
1991-1992 Toyota Previa Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible
for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1991-1992 Toyota Previa multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 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
1991-1992 Toyota Previa MPVs 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.
DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is November 18,
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
[[Page 56381]]
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. 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.
G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'')
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1991-1992 Toyota Previas that were not originally manufactured to
conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which G&K
believes are substantially similar are 1991-1992 Toyota Previas 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.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
1991-1992 Toyota Previas to their U.S. certified counterpart, 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 non-U.S. certified 1991-1992 Toyota Previas, 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 1991-
1992 Toyota Previas 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, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 119 New Pneumatic
Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control
Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 203 Impact
Protection foe 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, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of
Interior Materials.
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) inscription of the word
``Brake'' on the brake failure indicator lamp lens; (b) installation of
a seat belt warning lamp; (c) recalibration of the speedometer/odometer
so that it reads in 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. 111 Rearview Mirrors: replacement of the passenger
side rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component or inscription of the
required warning statement on its face.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer
micro switch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window Systems: installation of a
relay in the power window system so that the window transport is
inoperative when the ignition is switched off on vehicles that are not
already so equipped.
Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other
than Passenger Cars: installation of a tire information placard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of a seat
belt warning buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicles are
equipped with Type 2 seat belts in the front and rear outboard seating
positions, and with Type 1 seat belts in the rear center designated
seating position.
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
plate must be affixed to 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 Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW,
Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9 am to 5 pm]. 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: October 13, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-27241 Filed 10-18-99; 8:45 am]
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