[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20158-20159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5789]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2006-24491]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1999 BMW Z3 European Market Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1999 BMW Z3 European market 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 
1999 BMW Z3 European market 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 May 19, 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

[[Page 20159]]

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. (``AMC''), of North Miami, Florida 
(Registered Importer 01-278) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
nonconforming 1999 BMW Z3 European market passenger cars are eligible 
for importation into the United States. The vehicles which AMC believes 
are substantially similar are 1999 BMW Z3 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 
1999 BMW Z3 European market 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.
    AMC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S.-certified 1999 BMW Z3 European market 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 1999 
BMW Z3 European market passenger cars are identical 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, 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, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof 
Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 225 Child Restraint 
Anchorage Systems, 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: (a) Inscription of the word 
``brake'' on the instrument cluster in place of the international ECE 
warning symbol, and (b) replacement or conversion of the speedometer to 
read in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Inspection of all vehicles and replacement of any non-U.S.-
model, headlamps, taillamps, front and rear side-mounted reflex 
reflectors, and high-mounted stoplamp with U.S.-model components on 
vehicles that are not already so equipped.
    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, or installation of a supplemental key warning system.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel 
Systems: Installation of U.S.-version software to ensure that the 
systems meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of 
U.S.-version software to ensure that the seat belt warning system meets 
the requirements of this standard, and (b) inspection of all vehicles 
and replacement of any non-U.S.-model components needed to achieve 
conformity with this standard with U.S.-model components.
    Petitioner states that the vehicle's restraint system components 
include U.S.-model airbags and knee bolsters, 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. 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages: Inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of any non-U.S.-model seat belt anchorage 
components with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are not already 
so equipped.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Inspection of all vehicles 
and installation of U.S.-model components, on vehicles that are not 
already so equipped, to ensure compliance with the standard.
    The petitioner also states that all vehicles will be inspected for 
conformity with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581 and that 
any non-U.S.-model components necessary for conformity with this 
standard will be replaced with U.S.-model components.
    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 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.

Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E6-5789 Filed 4-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P