[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5019-5020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2276]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2000-6820]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1997-2000 Audi A8 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION:  Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1997-2000 Audi A8 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 
1997-2000 Audi A8 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 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.

DATES:  The closing date for comments on the petition is March 3, 2000.

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. 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 of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1997-2000 Audi A8 passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially 
similar are 1997-2000 Audi A8 passenger cars that were manufactured for 
importation into, and 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 
1997-2000 Audi A8 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.
    Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1997-2000 Audi A8 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 1997-
2000 Audi A8 passenger cars are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to

[[Page 5020]]

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, and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials. 
    Petitioner states that the vehicles also comply with the Bumper 
Standard found at 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 a noncomplying symbol on the brake 
failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp 
that displays the appropriate symbol; (c) recalibration of the 
speedometer/odometer to show distance in miles and speed 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; (d) 
installation of a high mounted stop lamp if the vehicle is not already 
so equipped.
    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 
and a warning buzzer microswitch in the steering lock assembly.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: rewiring of 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 U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's 
position, or a belt webbing actuated microswitch inside the driver's 
seat belt retractor; (b) installation of an ignition switch actuated 
seat belt warning lamp and buzzer; (c) replacement of the driver's and 
passenger's side air bags and knee bolsters with U.S.-model components 
on vehicles that are not already so equipped. The petitioner states 
that the vehicles are equipped with combination lap and shoulder belts 
that adjust by means of an automatic retractor and release by means of 
a single push button at the front outboard seating positions, with 
combination lap and shoulder restraints that release by means of a 
single push button at the rear outboard seating positions, and with a 
lap belt in the rear center designated seating position.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of 
reinforcing door beams.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification 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 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: January 28, 2000.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 00-2276 Filed 2-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P