[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49862-49863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20669]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-00-7756]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1995-2000 Mazda Xedos 9 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1995-2000 Mazda Xedos 9 Passenger cars 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 1995-
2000 Mazda Xedos 9 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.

DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is September 14, 
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.
    G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'') 
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1995-2000 Mazda Xedos 9 passenger

[[Page 49863]]

cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles 
which G&K believes are substantially similar are 1995-2000 Mazda 
Millenia 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 1995-2000 Mazda 
Xedos 9 passenger cars to 1995-2000 Mazda Millenia passenger cars, 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 1995-2000 Mazda Xedos 9 passenger cars, as originally 
manufactured, conform to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards in 
the same manner as 1995-2000 Mazda Millenia passenger cars, or are 
capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that 1995-2000 Mazda Xedos 9 
passenger cars are identical to 1995-2000 Mazda Millenia passenger cars 
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, 118 Power Window Systems, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 
Occupant Protection in Interior Impact (petitioner states that the 
Millenia has not been certified by its manufacturer as conforming to 
the standard's upper interior head impact requirements), 202 Head 
Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for 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, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush 
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that 1995-2000 Mazda Xedos 9 
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) installation of a seat 
belt warning lamp that displays the required seat belt symbol; (b) 
recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from kilometers to miles per 
hour; (c) replacement of the entire instrument cluster on most vehicles 
with an instrument cluster that displays the appropriate brake and 
other warning insignia in English.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies and front 
sidemarkers.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: (a) inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of any tires that do not bear DOT markings or 
are not of the same size and shape as those on U.S.-certified models; 
(b) installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: inspection of all vehicles and 
replacement of any passenger side rearview mirrors that do not bear the 
required warning statement.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a 
seat belt warning buzzer; (b) inspection of all vehicles and 
replacement of any driver's and passenger's side air bags and knee 
bolsters with part numbers that differ from those installed on U.S. 
certified models. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped 
with Type 2 seat belts in the front and rear outboard designated 
seating positions, and with a Type 1 seat belt in the rear center 
designated seating position.
    The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with anti-
theft devices which exempt them from the parts marking requirements of 
the Theft Prevention Standard at 49 CFR Part 541. The petitioner states 
that all vehicles will be inspected prior to importation, and that all 
anti-theft devices with part numbers that differ from those on U.S. 
certified models will be replaced.
    The petitioner also states that a VIN plate must be affixed to the 
vehicle so that it can be read from the left windshield pillar, and a 
VIN reference label must be affixed to the edge of the door or to the 
latch post nearest the driver, 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: August 9, 2000.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 00-20669 Filed 8-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P