[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38750-38752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16457]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-15470]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII, Left Hand Drive Passenger Cars Are 
Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

[[Page 38751]]


ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII, Left Hand Drive (LHD) passenger cars 
are eligible for importation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII LHD 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 July 30, 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 a.m. 
to 5 p.m.]. 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.
    G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'') 
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII LHD passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which G&K believes are 
substantially similar are 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII LHD 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 
2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII LHD 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.
    G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII LHD 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 2003 
Mitsubishi Evolution VIII LHD 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, 106 Brake 
Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch Systems, Standard No. 
114 Theft Protection, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 124 
Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Passenger Car Brake Systems, 201 
Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact 
Protection for Driver from Steering Control Systems, 204 Steering 
Control Rearward Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks 
and Door Retention Components, 207 Seating Systems, 208 Occupant Crash 
Protection, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly 
Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 
Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials.
    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 the 
word ``Brake'' for the international ECE warning symbol as markings for 
the brake failure indicator lamp; (b) inspection of all vehicles and 
installation, on vehicles that are not already so equipped, of a U.S. 
model speedometer reading in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of U.S.-model front and rear side marker lights 
and reflector assemblies.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Inscription of the required 
warning statement on the face of the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Installation of 
U.S.-model child restraint anchorage systems.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: The petitioner stated that 
modification of fuel system is necessary to meet EPA emission 
requirements and that with these modifications the vehicle will comply 
with this standard.
    Standard No. 401 Interior Trunk Release: Installation of U.S. model 
interior trunk release handle.
    Petitioner states that the front and rear bumper on non-U.S. 
certified 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution VIII LHD passenger cars must be 
reinforced to meet the requirements of the Bumper Standard found in 49 
CFR part 581.
    The petitioner also states that inspection of all vehicles for 
compliance with the parts marking requirements of the Theft Prevention 
Standard in 49 CFR part 541 is necessary, and that required markings 
will be added to any covered parts that are not already so marked.
    In addition, the petitioner states that a vehicle identification 
number (VIN) plate must be affixed to the vehicles so that it is 
readable from outside the driver's windshield pillar to meet the 
requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
    Lastly, the petitioner states that a certification label will be 
affixed to the driver's side doorjamb to meet the

[[Page 38752]]

requirements of the vehicle certification regulations in 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: June 24, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator For Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-16457 Filed 6-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P