[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56042-56043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24578]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16206]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 
2000, 2001 and 2002 Jaguar S-Type Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2000, 2001 and 2002 Jaguar S-Type 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 
2000, 2001 and 2002 Jaguar S-Type 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 October 29, 
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.
    J.K. Technologies LLC of Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered 
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
2000, 2001 and 2002 Jaguar S-Type passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which J.K. believes 
are substantially similar are 2000, 2001 and 2002 Jaguar S-Type 
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 compared printed text from dealers 
and parts lists for both non-U.S. certified 2000, 2001 and 2002 Jaguar 
S-Type passenger cars and their U.S.-certified counterparts, and found 
the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance 
with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

[[Page 56043]]

    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2000, 2001 and 2002 Jaguar S-Type 
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 2000, 
2001 and 2002 Jaguar S-Type 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, 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, 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, 
225 Child Seat Anchorage Systems, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials, and 401 Interior Trunk Release.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that non-U.S. certified 2000, 
2001 and 2002 Jaguar S-Type passenger car models 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: Replacement of the 
instrument cluster with the U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front side 
marker lights; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies and 
rear side marker lights.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component or inscription of the 
required warning statement on the mirror's face.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: reprogramming the vehicle to 
actuate the ignition key warning function.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Loading U.S. 
specification software to add the required seat belt warning light 
functions.
    The petitioner states that a vehicle identification plate must be 
affixed to the vehicle near the left windshield 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 requirements of the 
vehicle certification regulations in 49 CFR part 567.
    Compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard in 49 CFR part 541 is 
not required because the vehicle line has not been designated as line 
subject to this standard.
    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 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 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: September 23, 2003.
Kathleen DeMeter,
Director, Office of Defects Investigation.
[FR Doc. 03-24578 Filed 9-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P