[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5114-5115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1181]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2006-23699]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2005 and 2006 Ferrari F430 Passenger Cars Manufactured Before September 
1, 2006 Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2005 and 2006 Ferrari F430 passenger cars manufactured before September 
1, 2006 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 
2005 and 2006 Ferrari F430 passenger cars manufactured before September 
1, 2006 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 March 2, 2006.

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, LLC, of Baltimore, Maryland 
(``J.K.'')(Registered Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
whether nonconforming 2005 and 2006 Ferrari F430 passenger cars 
manufactured before September 1, 2006 are eligible for importation into 
the United States. The vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially 
similar are 2005 and 2006 Ferrari F430 passenger cars manufactured 
before September 1, 2006 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 
2005 and 2006 Ferrari F430 passenger cars manufactured before September 
1, 2006 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 2005 and 2006 Ferrari F430 
passenger cars manufactured before September 1, 2006, 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 2005 
and 2006 Ferrari F430 passenger cars manufactured before September 1, 
2006 are identical

[[Page 5115]]

to their U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with 
Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, 
and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and 
Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 Brake 
Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch System, 116 Motor 
Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof 
Panel 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, 210 Seat Belt 
Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact 
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
302 Flammability of Interior Materials, and 401 Interior Trunk Release.
    The petitioner states that the vehicles also conform to the Bumper 
Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
    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: installation of a U.S.-
model instrument cluster. U.S. version software must also be downloaded 
to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model: (a) Headlamps; (b) front side 
marker lamps; (c) rear side marker lamps; and (d) taillamp assemblies 
or modification of existing taillamps to conform to the standard.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model 
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning 
statement on the face of that mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of U.S. version 
software to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 207 Seating Systems: Inspection of all vehicles and 
replacement of any non-U.S.-model components with U.S.-model components 
on vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of U.S. 
version software to ensure that the seat belt warning system meets the 
requirements of this standard.
    Petitioner states that the vehicle's restraint system components 
include dual front airbags, and combination lap and shoulder belts at 
the outboard front designated seating positions.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of all vehicles 
and replacement of any non-U.S.-model seat belts with U.S.-model 
components on vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Installation of 
U.S.-model tether anchorages in coupe model.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Inspection of all vehicles 
and replacement of any non-U.S.-model components with U.S.-model 
components on vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield 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 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.

Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E6-1181 Filed 1-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P