[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63844-63845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28143]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16449]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2000 Mazda MPV Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2000 Mazda MPV multi-purpose passenger vehicles 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 Mazda MPV multi-purpose passenger vehicles 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 December 10, 
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.
    Sunshine Car Import of Cape Coral, Florida (``SCI'') (Registered 
Importer 01-289) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 2000 Mazda MPV 
multi-purpose passenger vehicles are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which SCI believes are substantially 
similar are 2000 Mazda MPV multi-purpose passenger vehicles 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 
2000 Mazda MPV multi-purpose passenger vehicles 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.
    SCI submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 2000 Mazda MPV multi-purpose passenger 
vehicles, 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 
Mazda MPV multi-purpose passenger vehicles 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, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 119 
New Pneumatic Tires, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 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, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield 
Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of 
Interior Materials.

[[Page 63845]]

    Petitioner states that the vehicles also comply with the Bumper 
Standard found at 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: (a) Inscription of the word 
``BRAKE'' on the instrument cluster in place of the international ECE 
warning symbol; (b) replacement or modification of the speedometer to 
read in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies.
    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 face of that mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a key warning 
buzzer, or reprogramming of the vehicle to activate the key warning 
system.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window Systems: Inspection of all 
vehicles and installation of a relay to make the window transport 
inoperative when the ignition is switched off in vehicles that are not 
already so equipped.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact: Inspection 
of all vehicles and installation of U.S.-model components necessary to 
achieve compliance with the standard in vehicles that are not already 
so equipped.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
seat belt warning buzzer, wired to the seat belt micro switch; (b) 
Inspection of all vehicles and replacement of the driver's and 
passenger's air bags, knee bolsters, control unit, sensor, and all seat 
belts that are not U.S.-model components. The petitioner states that 
the vehicles should be equipped with dual front air bags and knee 
bolsters, with combination lap and shoulder belts at the front and rear 
outboard seating positions that are self-tensioning and released by 
means of a single red pushbutton, and with a lap belt in the rear 
center seating position.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Inspection of all vehicles 
and installation of U.S.-model door beams on vehicles that are not 
already so equipped.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Installation of 
a U.S.-model child seat tether anchor kit.
    The petitioner states that all vehicles must be inspected to ensure 
that they are equipped with U.S.-model bumpers and that these 
components will be installed in vehicles not already so equipped to 
achieve compliance with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must 
be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post and a 
reference and certification label must be affixed in the area of the 
left front door post to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565. The 
petition further states that a certification label must be affixed to 
the driver's door latch post to comply with 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 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: November 4, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-28143 Filed 11-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P