[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 19000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7597]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 23-2012]


Foreign-Trade Zone 99--Wilmington, DE: Application for 
Manufacturing Authority; Fisker Automotive, Inc. (Electric Passenger 
Vehicles): Wilmington, DE

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Delaware Economic Development Office, grantee of FTZ 
99, requesting manufacturing authority on behalf of Fisker Automotive, 
Inc. (Fisker), to manufacture electric-powered, light-duty passenger 
vehicles under FTZ procedures within FTZ 99. The application was 
submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR 
part 400). It was formally filed on March 23, 2012.
    The Fisker facility (approximately 1,500 employees) is located at 
801 Boxwood Road in Wilmington, Delaware (Site 2). The facility 
(formerly owned by General Motors Corporation) will be used to produce 
electric-powered, light-duty passenger vehicles (up to 300,000 units 
per year) for the U.S. market and export. Components to be purchased 
from abroad (representing about 40% of total material inputs, by value) 
would include carboxylic acids, paints and varnishes, sealants, 
cleaning agents, grease/lubricating agents, adhesives, oils and fluids, 
welding compounds, fuel additives, anti-freeze, chemical preparations, 
tubing, flexible rubber tubes/hoses, self-adhesive plastic or 
polyurethane sheets/foil/film, labels, sealing tape, polyethylene/
plastic bags, articles of plastic (e.g., handles, grips, knobs, locks, 
seals, o-rings, caps), articles of rubber (e.g., belts, tubes, hoses, 
dampeners, grommets, plugs, mountings), tires, gaskets, seals, floor 
mats, leather bags, man-made fiber and cotton textile bags/cases/sun 
blinds/felt/other articles (HTSUS categories 4202.12, 4202.19, 4202.92, 
4202.99, 5602.90, 6305.20, 6307.90--these items will be admitted to FTZ 
99 under privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41) or domestic (duty 
paid) status (19 CFR 146.43)), leather articles, wood boxes, items of 
paper/paperboard, printed materials, nets, carpet sets, mineral wools, 
safety glass, glass lenses, mirrors, car covers, fiberglass parts, heat 
deflectors, tube/pipe fittings, pins, hangers, body parts, trim parts, 
articles of base metals, roller chain, doors, fasteners, cotter pins, 
leaf/helical springs, clamps, articles of aluminum and copper, articles 
of zinc, hand tools, catalytic converters, locks and keys, spark-
ignition and diesel engines, engine parts, pumps, compressors, air 
conditioner components, turbochargers, cooling boxes, filters, valves, 
parts of steering systems, steering wheels, hubs and flanges, chain, 
heat exchangers, spray nozzles, universal joints, clutches, half/drive 
shafts, transmissions and parts thereof, torque converters, 
differentials, bearings and parts thereof, compasses, thermostats, 
motors, alternators, batteries, ignition parts, electrical parts, 
lighting equipment, lamps, horns, windshield wipers, electric heaters, 
cameras, radio/audio/video components, navigational equipment, 
speakers, antennas, telephonic components, wiring harnesses, cable, 
electronic components, printed circuits, controllers, seats, seat 
belts, airbag modules/inflators, brake components, road wheels, wheel 
locks, lug nuts, lug wrenches, suspension components, radiators, heater 
cores, exhaust systems, hinges, pneumatic dampeners, speedometers, 
tachometers, voltmeters, gauges, oxygen sensors, flow meters, anti-
theft systems, LCD displays, regulators, sensors, resistors, relays, 
starters, cigarette lighters, clocks, spark plugs, and switches (duty 
rate range: free-20%). The application also requests authority to 
include a broad range of inputs and finished passenger motor vehicles 
that Fisker may use in production or produce under FTZ procedures in 
the future. New major activity involving these inputs/products would 
require review by the FTZ Board.
    FTZ procedures could exempt Fisker from customs duty payments on 
foreign components used in export production. The company anticipates 
that some 50 percent of the plant's shipments will be exported. On its 
domestic sales, Fisker would be able to choose the duty rates during 
customs entry procedures that apply to electric-powered passenger 
vehicles (duty rate--2.5%) for the foreign inputs noted above. FTZ 
designation would further allow Fisker to realize logistical benefits 
through the use of weekly customs entry procedures. Customs duties also 
could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign status production 
equipment. The request indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures 
would help improve the plant's international competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Pierre Duy of the FTZ 
Staff is designated examiner to evaluate and analyze the facts and 
information presented in the application and case record and to report 
findings and recommendations to the Board.
    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions 
(original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board's Executive 
Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is 
May 29, 2012. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to June 12, 2012.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 
Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the ``Reading Room'' section of the 
Board's Web site, which is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz.
    For further information, contact Pierre Duy at [email protected] 
or (202) 482-1378.

    Dated: March 23, 2012.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-7597 Filed 3-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P