[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48701-48702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18757]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2002-12731]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Left-Hand Drive Japanese Market 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Multipurpose 
Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
left-hand drive (LHD) Japanese Market 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 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 
LHD 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs manufactured for sale in Japan that 
were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the 
United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles that 
were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that 
were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety 
standards, and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to 
the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is August 26, 
2002.

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 a.m. 
to 5 p.m.].

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.
    Auto Enterprises of Warren Michigan (Registered Importer 93-013) 
has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether LHD 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
MPVs originally manufactured for sale in Japan are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which Auto Enterprises 
believes are

[[Page 48702]]

substantially similar are 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs that were 
manufactured for 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 
LHD Japanese Market 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs 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.
    Auto Enterprises submitted information with its petition intended 
to demonstrate that non-U.S. certified LHD Japanese Market 1997 Jeep 
Grand Cherokee MPVs, 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 LHD 
Japanese Market 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs are identical to their 
U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard 
Nos. 101 Controls and Displays, 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence * 
* *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and 
Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake 
Hoses, 111 Rearview Mirrors (noting that the required warning statement 
is inscribed on the passenger-side rearview mirror), 113 Hood Latch 
Systems, 114 Theft Protection (noting that an audible alarm is 
activated when the ignition key is left in the ignition lock and the 
driver's door is open), 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power 
Window Systems (noting that the power window transport is not activated 
when the ignition is switched off) 119 New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles 
other than Passenger Cars, 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles 
other than Passenger Cars (noting the presence of an OEM Export label 
in the door jamb that contains the required tire and rim information), 
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, 208 Occupant Crash Protection (noting 
that the vehicle is equipped with a safety belt warning buzzer and dash 
panel light, with U.S.-model driver's and passenger's side air bags, 
and with Type 2 seat belts in all front and rear outboard seating 
positions), 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 non-U.S. certified LHD 
Japanese Market 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPVs comply with the Bumper 
Standard found in 49 CFR part 581, and with the Vehicle Identification 
Number (VIN) plate requirement of 49 CFR part 565.
    Petitioner further contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standard, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: replacement of the left and right headlamps, front markers, 
and front park lamps with U.S.-model components.
    The petitioner states that all vehicles must be inspected prior to 
importation for compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard found in 
49 CFR part 541, and that U.S.-model anti-theft devices must be 
installed on all vehicles lacking that equipment.
    The petitioner also states that a certification label must be 
affixed to the left front door jamb to meet the requirements of 49 CFR 
part 567.
    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 a.m. to 5 p.m.]. 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: July 18, 2002.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 02-18757 Filed 7-24-02; 8:45 am]
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