[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53830-53832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26811]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Petition for Exemption From the Federal Motor Vehicle Motor Theft 
Prevention Standard; Nissan

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Grant of petition for exemption.

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SUMMARY: This document grants in full the petition of Nissan North 
America, Inc., (Nissan) for an exemption of a high-theft line 
(codenamed ``Model M'') from the parts-marking requirements of the 
Federal motor vehicle theft prevention standard. This petition is 
granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to 
be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as 
effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance 
with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard. 
Nissan requested confidential treatment for its information and 
attachments submitted in support of its petition. The agency will 
address Nissan's request for confidential treatment in a separate 
letter.

DATES: The exemption granted by this notice is effective beginning with 
the (confidential) model year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rosalind Proctor, Office of 
Planning and Consumer Programs, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, 
Washington DC 20590. Ms. Proctor's phone number is (202) 366-0846. Her 
fax number is (202) 493-2290.

[[Page 53831]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a petition dated June 21, 2001, Nissan 
North America, Inc. (Nissan), requested exemption from the parts-
marking requirements of the theft prevention standard for a motor 
vehicle line. The nameplate of the line and the model year of 
introduction are confidential. The petition requested an exemption from 
parts-marking pursuant to 49 CFR 543, Exemption from Vehicle Theft 
Prevention Standard, based on the installation of an antitheft device 
as standard equipment for the entire vehicle line.
    Based on the evidence submitted by Nissan, the agency believes that 
the antitheft device for the Nissan ``Model M'' vehicle line is likely 
to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as 
compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the theft prevention 
standard (49 CFR part 541).
    Section 33106(b)(2)(D) of title 49, United States Code, authorized 
the Secretary of Transportation to grant an exemption from the parts-
marking requirements for not more than one additional line of a 
manufacturer for MYs 1997-2000. However, it does not address the 
contingency of what to do after model year 2000 in the absence of a 
decision under Section 33103(d). 49 U.S.C. 33103(d)(3) states that the 
number of lines for which the agency can grant an exemption is to be 
decided after the Attorney General completes a review of the 
effectiveness of antitheft devices and finds that antitheft devices are 
an effective substitute for parts-marking. The Attorney General has not 
yet made a finding and has not decided the number of lines, if any, for 
which the agency will be authorized to grant an exemption. Upon 
consultation with the Department of Justice, we determined that the 
appropriate reading of Section 33103(d) is that the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) may continue to grant parts-
marking exemptions for not more than one additional model line each 
year, as specified for model years 1997-2000 by 49 U.S.C. 
33106(b)(2)(C). This is the level contemplated by the Act for the 
period before the Attorney General's decision. The final decision on 
whether to continue granting exemptions will be made by the Attorney 
General at the conclusion of the review pursuant to Section 
330103(d)(3).
    Nissan's submittal is considered a complete petition, as required 
by 49 CFR 543.7, in that it meets the general requirements contained in 
Sec. 543.5 and the specific content requirements of Sec. 543.6. Nissan 
requested confidential treatment for the information submitted in 
support of its petition. The agency will address Nissan's request for 
confidential treatment in a separate letter.
    In its petition, Nissan provided a detailed description and diagram 
of the identity, design, and location of the components of the 
antitheft device for the new line. This antitheft device includes an 
engine-immobilizer and alarm system. The antitheft device is a passive 
system, and is activated by turning the ignition switch to the ``OFF'' 
position using the proper ignition key.
    In order to ensure the reliability and durability of the device, 
Nissan conducted tests based on its own specified standards. Nissan 
provided a detailed list of tests conducted and believes that its 
device is reliable and durable since the device complied with its 
specified requirements for each test.
    Nissan compared the device proposed for its vehicle line with 
devices which NHTSA has determined to be as effective in reducing and 
deterring motor vehicle theft as would compliance with the parts-
marking requirements. Nissan stated that its proposed device is 
functionally equivalent to the systems used in previous vehicle lines 
which were deemed effective and granted exemptions from the parts-
marking requirements of the theft prevention standard. Additionally, 
theft data have indicated a decline in theft rates for vehicle lines 
that have been equipped with antitheft devices similar to that which 
Nissan proposes to install on the new line.
    On the basis of this comparison, Nissan has concluded that the 
proposed antitheft device is no less effective than those devices 
installed on lines for which NHTSA has already granted full exemption 
from the parts-marking requirements.
    Based on the evidence submitted by Nissan, the agency believes that 
the antitheft device for the Nissan vehicle line is likely to be as 
effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance 
with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard 
(49 CFR 541).
    The agency concludes that the device will provide five of the types 
of performance listed in Sec. 543.6(a)(3): Promoting activation; 
attracting attention to the efforts of unauthorized persons; preventing 
defeat or circumvention of the device by unauthorized persons; 
preventing operation of the vehicle by unauthorized entrants; and 
ensuring the reliability and durability of the device.
    As required by 49 U.S.C. 33106 and 49 CFR part 543.6(a)(4) and (5), 
the agency finds that Nissan has provided adequate reasons for its 
belief that the antitheft device will reduce and deter theft. This 
conclusion is based on the information Nissan provided about its 
device, much of which is confidential. This confidential information 
included a description of reliability and functional tests conducted by 
Nissan for the antitheft device and its components.
    For the foregoing reasons, the agency hereby grants in full 
Nissan's petition for exemption for its vehicle line from the parts-
marking requirements of 49 CFR part 541. The agency notes that 49 CFR 
part 541, appendix A-1, identifies those lines that are exempted from 
the Theft Prevention Standard for a given model year. Advanced listing, 
including the release of future product nameplates, is necessary in 
order to notify law enforcement agencies of new models exempted from 
the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard. 
Therefore, since Nissan has been granted confidential treatment for its 
vehicle line, the confidential status of the vehicle line will be 
protected until the introduction of its vehicle line into the market 
place. At that time, Appendix A-1 will be revised to reflect the 
nameplate of Nissan's exempted vehicle line.
    If Nissan decides not to use the exemption for this line, it should 
formally notify the agency. If such a decision is made, the line must 
be fully marked according to the requirements under 49 CFR parts 541.5 
and 541.6 (marking of major component parts and replacement parts).
    NHTSA notes that if Nissan wishes in the future to modify the 
device on which this exemption is based, the company may have to submit 
a petition to modify the exemption. Part 543.7(d) states that a part 
543 exemption applies only to vehicles that belong to a line exempted 
under this part and equipped with the antitheft device on which the 
line's exemption is based. Further, part 543.9(c)(2) provides for the 
submission of petitions ``to modify an exemption to permit the use of 
an antitheft device similar to but differing from the one specified in 
that exemption.''
    The agency wishes to minimize the administrative burden that part 
543.9(c)(2) could place on exempted vehicle manufacturers and itself. 
The agency did not intend in drafting part 543 to require the 
submission of a modification petition for every change to the 
components or design of an antitheft device. The significance of many 
such changes could be de minimis. Therefore, NHTSA suggests that if the 
manufacturer contemplates making any changes the effects of which

[[Page 53832]]

might be characterized as de minimis, it should consult the agency 
before preparing and submitting a petition to modify.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33106; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50.

    Issued on: October 18, 2001.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-26811 Filed 10-23-01; 8:45 am]
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