[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8759-8760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4095]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2000-6941]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1998 Jeep Wrangler 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 
1998 Jeep Wrangler multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) are eligible 
for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that a 1998 
Jeep Wrangler manufactured for the European and other foreign markets 
that was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for importation into 
the United States because (1) it is substantially similar to a vehicle 
that was originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that 
was certified by its manufacturer as complying with the safety 
standards, and (2) it is capable of being readily altered to conform to 
the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is March 23, 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

[[Page 8760]]

for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in the Federal 
Register.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc., of Houston, Texas 
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer 90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1998 Jeep Wrangler MPVs manufactured for the European 
and other foreign markets are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicle which Wallace believes is substantially similar is 
the 1998 Jeep Wrangler that was manufactured for sale in the United 
States and certified by its manufacturer, Chrysler Corporation, as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1998 Jeep Wrangler to its U.S. certified counterpart, and 
found the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1998 Jeep Wrangler, as 
originally manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified 
1998 Jeep Wrangler is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 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, 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, 214 Side Impact 
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: inscription of the word 
``Brake'' on the brake failure warning light. Petitioner states that 
the vehicle conforms to the standard even though it is equipped with an 
odometer that is calibrated in kilometers, because the odometer is 
labeled to show that its reading is in kilometers.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Replacement of the headlight assemblies with U.S.-model 
components; (b) replacement of the taillights with units that conform 
to the standard; (c) installation of sidemarkers that conform to the 
standard; (d) installation of a high mounted stop lamp.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning device 
that activates whenever the key is left in the ignition and the 
driver's door is opened.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a 
seat belt warning system with a flashing light that displays the 
appropriate symbol; (b) installation of U.S.-model driver's and 
passenger's side air bags and knee bolsters if the vehicle is not 
already so equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped 
with Type 2 seat belts in the front and rear outboard designated 
seating positions and that there are no center seating positions in the 
vehicle.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover 
valve assembly.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that a vehicle identification 
number 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. 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 February 16, 2000.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 00-4095 Filed 2-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P