[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P