[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69765-69766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30830]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16629]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2000 Ford F150 Pickup Trucks Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks 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 
2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks 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 
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 January 14, 
2004.

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

[[Page 69766]]

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 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.
    Automobile Concepts, Inc. of North Miami, Florida (``AMC'') 
(Registered Importer 01-278) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks manufactured in the United States for 
export to foreign markets are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicles which AMC believes are substantially similar are 
2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks 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 
2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks 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.
    AMC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 2000 Ford F150 pickup trucks, 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 
Ford F150 pickup trucks 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 and 
Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices 
and Associated Equipment, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 
116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power Window Systems, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for 
Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 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, 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.
    The 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 a U.S.-model component so that the speedometer 
reads in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of any seat belts, air bag control units, air 
bags, and knee bolsters with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are 
not already so equipped. Petitioner states that the vehicle should be 
equipped with an automatic restraint system consisting of driver's and 
passenger's air bags and knee bolsters, air bag crash sensors, and an 
air bag control unit. Petitioner also states that the vehicle should be 
equipped with combination lap and shoulder belts that are self-
tensioning and that release by means of a single red pushbutton. 
Petitioner further states that the vehicle is equipped with a seat belt 
warning lamp identical to that on the vehicle's U.S.-certified 
counterpart.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must 
be affixed to the vehicle near the left windshield post and a reference 
and certification label must be affixed to the edge of the driver's 
side door or to the latch post nearest the driver to meet the 
requirements of 49 CFR Part 565. In addition, a certification label 
must be affixed to the driver's side doorjamb 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: December 9, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-30830 Filed 12-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P