[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19429-19431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8939]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7173]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 
1988-1990 Jaguar XJS and XJ6 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1988-1990 Jaguar XJS and XJ6 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 
1988-1990

[[Page 19430]]

Jaguar XJS and XJ6 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 May 11, 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.
    J.K. Technologies of Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'')(Registered 
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1988-1990 
Jaguar XJS and XJ6 passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially 
similar are 1988-1990 Jaguar XJS and XJ6 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 
1988-1990 Jaguar XJS and XJ6 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.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1988-1990 Jaguar XJS and XJ6 
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 1988-
1990 Jaguar XJS and XJ6 passenger cars 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, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 
Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 
201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 
Impact Protection for the Driver from the Steering Control System (for 
all vehicles except the 1990 Jaguar XJS, to which the standard is 
inapplicable because the vehicle meets the frontal barrier crash test 
requirements in paragraph S5.1 of Standard No. 208), 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, 
301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 1988-
1990 Jaguar XJS and XJ6 passenger cars comply with the Bumper Standard 
found in 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) replacement of the speedometer with one 
calibrated in miles per hour. The petitioner states that owing to a 
shortage of dealer available parts for earlier models, these parts may 
be purchased from aftermarket Jaguar suppliers, and that in some cases 
the instrument clusters will be replaced with complete units as opposed 
to individual parts.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Inspection of all vehicles, and, where necessary, (a) 
installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front sidemarker lamps; (b) 
installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies which incorporate rear 
sidemarker lights; (c) installation of a U.S.-model high mounted stop 
lamp.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard on vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component on vehicles that are not 
already so equipped.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer 
and a warning buzzer microswitch in the steering lock assembly on 
vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: installation, on vehicles 
that are not already so equipped, of a relay in the power window system 
so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is 
switched off.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection:
    All vehicles: installation of a safety belt warning buzzer, wired 
to the driver's seat belt latch.
    1988-1989 Jaguar XJS and the 1988-1990 Jaguar XJS: replacement of 
the motorized automatic belts with U.S.-model components on vehicles 
that are not already so equipped. The petitioner states that these 
vehicles are equipped with combination lap and shoulder belts at the 
rear outboard seating positions and with a lap belt at the rear center 
seating position.
    1990 Jaguar XJS: replacement of the driver's side air bag and knee 
bolster with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are not already so 
equipped. The petitioner states that these vehicles are equipped with 
combination lap and shoulder belts at the front and rear outboard 
seating positions, and ``with rear center seat lap belt.''
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of U.S.-model 
doorbars in vehicles that are not already so equipped.

[[Page 19431]]

    The petitioner states that all vehicles will be inspected prior to 
importation to ensure that they comply with the parts marking 
requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard at 49 CFR Part 541, and 
that these markings will be embossed or engraved on any required parts 
from which they are missing.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must 
be affixed to the vehicle near the left windshield post and a reference 
and certification label must be affixed in the area of the left front 
door post 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: April 6, 2000.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 00-8939 Filed 4-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P