[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11898-11899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5885]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-14628]


Notice of Receipt of Petitions for Decision That Nonconforming 
1996 and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1996 and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo 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 
1996 and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo 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 April 11, 2003.

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].
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).

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.
    Northern California Diagnostic Laboratories, Inc. of Napa, 
California (``NCDL'') (Registered Importer 92-011) petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1996 and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo passenger cars are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles that NCDL 
believes are substantially similar are 1996 and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo 
passenger cars that were manufactured for importation into, and sale 
in, the United States and certified by their manufacturer as

[[Page 11899]]

conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it has carefully compared non-U.S. 
certified 1996 and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo 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.
    NCDL submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1996 and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo 
passenger cars, as originally manufactured for sale in Europe, 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 1996 
and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo 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, 110 
Tire Selection and Rims, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 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, 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.
    NCDL states that non-U.S certified 1996 and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo 
passenger cars are capable of being readily altered to meet the 
following standards, in the manner indicated below:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: installation of a U.S.-
model instrument warning module and speedometer.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model headlamp, front side marker, 
taillight, license lamp, and high mounted stop lamp assemblies.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: installation of U.S.-model 
rearview mirrors.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of U.S.-
model automatic seat belts.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: installation of U.S.-model 
automatic seat belt assemblies.
    Additionally, NCDL states that U.S.-model front and rear bumper 
reinforcements must be installed on non-U.S. certified 1996 and 1997 
Lamborghini Diablo passenger cars to comply with the Bumper Standard 
found in 49 CFR part 581.
    NCDL also states that a vehicle identification number (VIN) plate 
must be affixed to non-U.S. certified 1996 and 1997 Lamborghini Diablo 
passenger cars to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petitions 
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 petitions 
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: March 7, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-5885 Filed 3-11-03; 8:45 am]
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