[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 96 (Friday, May 16, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28370-28371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10831]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 565

[Docket No. NHTSA 2008-0022]
RIN 2127-AJ99


Vehicle Identification Number Requirements; Correction

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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

SUMMARY: NHTSA published in the Federal Register of April 30, 2008, a 
final rule making certain changes in the 17-character vehicle 
identification number (VIN) system so that the system will remain 
viable for at least another 30 years. The regulatory text of the final 
rule contained several typographical errors, which this document 
corrects. In addition, this document makes clear that all motor 
vehicles identified by their manufacturer as model year (MY) 2009 or 
earlier vehicles must comply with the current Part 565 VIN requirements 
(which are set forth in subpart C of Part 565 of the final rule).

DATES: Effective Date: May 16, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For non-legal issues, you may contact 
Mr. Kenneth O. Hardie, Office of Crash Avoidance Standards (NVS-120), 
NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 (Telephone: 
202-366-6987) (FAX: 202-366-7002).
    For legal issues, you may contact Ms. Deirdre Fujita, Office of the 
Chief Counsel, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 
(Telephone: 202-366-2992) (FAX: 202-366-3820).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA published a final rule in the Federal 
Register of April 30, 2008, (73 FR 23367; NHTSA Docket 2008-0022) that 
made certain changes in the 17-character vehicle identification number 
(VIN) system so that there will be a sufficient number of unique 
manufacturer identifiers and VINs to use for at least another 30 
years.\1\ The regulatory text of the final rule contained several 
typographical errors which this document corrects. In addition, this 
document makes clear that all motor vehicles identified by their 
manufacturer as model year (MY) 2009 or earlier vehicles must comply 
with the current Part 565 VIN requirements (which are set forth in 
subpart C of Part 565 of the final rule).\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The bulk of the changes in 49 CFR Part 565 applied to 
passenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a 
gross vehicle weight rating of 4536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or 
less. There were relatively few changes to the regulation that 
impact the manufacturers of other vehicles. However, NHTSA urges all 
manufacturers to read the new regulation carefully to determine the 
specific changes that apply to them, such as the new requirement 
that the vehicle make now be communicated in and decipherable from 
the second section of the VIN as opposed to the first section of the 
VIN as previously required.
    \2\ In the Federal Register document at page 23376, middle 
column under the heading ``Agency Analysis and Response'' (which 
related to ``14. Effective Date of the Rule'') there is a discussion 
relating to the effective date that focuses on the letters ``A'' and 
``B'' in the 10th VIN position. The entire thrust of that discussion 
was intended to make clear that the application of the new 
regulation begins with the 2010 model year. However, while the 
agency intended that the application of the old regulation was to 
end with the completion of the 2009 model year, this application was 
not clearly stated. This correction addresses the lack of clarity in 
establishing the end of the old regulation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Correction of Publication

0
In rule FR Doc. 08-1197 published on April 30, 2008, (73 FR 23367), 
make the following corrections.

0
1. On page 23379, in the second column, Sec.  565.2 is correctly 
revised to read as follows:

[[Page 28371]]

Sec.  565.2  Application.

    (a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, 
Subpart B of this part 565 applies to passenger cars, multipurpose 
passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers (including trailer kits), 
incomplete vehicles, low speed vehicles, and motorcycles manufactured 
on or after October 27, 2008 whose VINs have a letter ``A'' or ``B'' in 
the 10th position, and to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger 
vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers (including trailer kits), incomplete 
vehicles, low speed vehicles, and motorcycles manufactured on or after 
April 30, 2009. Vehicles imported into the United States under 49 CFR 
591.5(f), other than by the corporation responsible for the assembly of 
that vehicle or a subsidiary of such a corporation, are excluded from 
requirements of Sec.  565.13(b), Sec.  565.13(c), Sec.  565.13(g), 
Sec.  565.13(h), Sec.  565.14 and Sec.  565.15.
    (2) All motor vehicles identified as model year 2009 or earlier 
vehicles by their manufacturer must comply with Subpart C of this part 
565.
    (b) Subpart B of this part 565 applies to vehicles manufactured on 
or after April 30, 2008 and before April 30, 2009, whose vehicle 
identification number (VIN) does not have a letter ``A'' or ``B'' in 
the 10th position of the VIN and that are not identified as model year 
2009 or earlier vehicles by their manufacturer.


Sec.  565.11  [Corrected]

0
2. On page 23379, in the second column, in Sec.  565.11, ``572'' in the 
first sentence of the paragraph is corrected to read ``565,'' and the 
phrase ``that are not identified by their manufacturer as model year 
2009 or earlier vehicles'' is added to the end of the second sentence. 
In the third column of the same page, in Sec.  565.11, ``591.14(f)'' is 
corrected to read ``591.5(f).''


Sec.  565.21  [Corrected]

0
3. On page 23383, in the first column, in Sec.  565.21, ``572'' in the 
first sentence of the paragraph is corrected to read ``565.'' In the 
third sentence, ``591.24(f)'' is corrected to read ``591.5(f).''

    Issued: May 8, 2008.
 Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. E8-10831 Filed 5-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P