[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69766-69768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30831]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16672]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2003 Saab 9.3 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2003 Saab 9.3 passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic

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Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2003 
Saab 9.3 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 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 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.
    J.K. Technologies of Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered 
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 2003 Saab 9.3 
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The 
vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially similar are 2003 Saab 
9.3 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 Saab 9.3 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.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2003 Saab 9.3 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 
Saab 9.3 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, 113 Hood Latch 
Systems, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power-Operated 
Window Systems, 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, 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, 301 
Fuel System Integrity, 302 Flammability of Interior Materials, and 401 
Interior Trunk Release.
    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: reprogramming of the 
instrument cluster to comply with the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model front sidemarker lamps.
    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 passenger side rearview mirror, or replacement 
of that mirror with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of all 
vehicles to ensure that the front and rear seat belts are U.S.-model 
components and installation of those components in vehicles that are 
not already so equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicles comply 
with the standard in all other respects.
    The petitioner states that all vehicles must be inspected to ensure 
compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard at 49 CFR part 541, and 
that anti-theft markings must be added to vehicles that are not already 
so marked.
    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.
    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.


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    Issued on: December 9, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-30831 Filed 12-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P