[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29752-29753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12050]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Petition for Exemption From the Federal Motor Vehicle Motor Theft 
Prevention Standard; Jaguar Land Rover

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

ACTION: Grant of petition for exemption.

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SUMMARY: This document grants in full the petition of Jaguar Land Rover 
North America LLC's, (Land Rover) for an exemption of the Land Rover 
LR2 vehicle line in accordance with 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from the 
Theft Prevention Standard. This petition is granted, because the agency 
has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as 
standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and 
deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking 
requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, 49 
CFR part 541.

DATES: The exemption granted by this notice is effective beginning with 
the 2013 model year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Deborah Mazyck, Office of 
International Policy, Fuel Economy and Consumer Programs, NHTSA, W43-
443, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Ms. Mazyck's 
phone number is (202) 366-4139. Her fax number is (202) 493-2990.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a petition dated April 13, 2012, Land 
Rover requested an exemption from the parts-marking requirements of the 
theft prevention standard (49 CFR part 541) for the Land Rover LR2 
vehicle line, beginning with Model Year (MY) 2013. The petition 
requested an exemption from parts-marking pursuant to 49 CFR 543, 
Exemption from Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard, based on the 
installation of an antitheft device as standard equipment for the 
entire vehicle line.
    Under Sec.  543.5(a), a manufacturer may petition NHTSA to grant an 
exemption for one vehicle line per model year. In its petition, Land 
Rover provided a detailed description and diagram of the identity, 
design and location of the components of the antitheft device for the 
Land Rover LR2 vehicle line. Land Rover will install a passive, 
transponder-based, electronic engine immobilizer antitheft device as 
standard equipment on its LR2 vehicle line beginning with MY 2013. Key 
components of its antitheft device will include a power train control 
module (PCM), instrument cluster, body control module (BCM), remote 
frequency receiver, immobilizer antenna unit (IAU), smart key, door 
control units and a perimeter alarm system. The immobilizer device is 
automatically armed when the Smart Key is removed from the vehicle. 
Land Rover stated that the Smart Key is programmed and synchronized to 
the vehicle through the means of an identification key code and a 
randomly generated secret code that are unique to each vehicle. 
Additionally, Land Rover states that the audible and visual perimeter 
alarm system that will be installed as standard equipment can be armed 
manually or programmed to arm automatically with the Smart Key. If the 
hood, luggage compartment or doors are opened during an unauthorized 
entry attempt, the vehicle siren alarm will sound and the exterior 
lights will flash. Land Rover's submission is a complete petition as 
required by 49 CFR part 543.7, in that it meets the general 
requirements contained in 49 CFR part 543.5 and the specific content 
requirements of 49 CFR part 543.6.
    Land Rover stated that there are two methods of vehicle operation 
and engine start: (1) Unlocking the vehicle with the Smart Key unlock 
button and pressing the Start button, and (2) using the emergency key 
blade. Land Rover further stated that, when the Start button is 
pressed, a search begins in order to find and authenticate the Smart 
Key within the vehicle interior. A coded exchange between the BCM and 
Smart Key is entered through the IAU. If the exchange is successful, 
the BCM will pass the valid key status to the Instrument Cluster. With 
the ignition on, the BCM is forced to communicate with the instrument 
Cluster. The BCM sends the ``key valid'' message to the PCM which 
initiates a coded data transfer. If successful, the engine is 
authorized to start. If the Smart Key has a discharged battery or is 
damaged, the emergency key blade can be used to unlock the door. 
Pressing the ignition start button initiates a search to find and 
authenticate the Smart Key within the vehicle interior. If 
authentication is unsuccessful, the Smart Key must be docked in the 
lower steering column cowl. Once the correct key is placed in the 
correct position, and the ignition start button is pressed again, a 
coded exchange is entered via the IAU. If the exchange is successful, 
the BCM will pass the valid key status to the instrument cluster. The 
BCM then sends a message to the PCM initiating a coded data transfer 
and successful engine start.
    In addressing the specific content requirements of 543.6, Land 
Rover provided information on the reliability and durability of its 
proposed device. To ensure reliability and durability of the device, 
Land Rover conducted tests based on its own specified standards. Land 
Rover provided a detailed list of the tests conducted (i.e., 
temperature and humidity cycling, high and low temperature cycling, 
mechanical shock, random vibration, thermal stress/shock tests, 
material resistance tests, dry heat, dust and fluid ingress tests). 
Land Rover stated that it believes that its device is reliable and 
durable because it complied with specified requirements for each test. 
Additionally, Land Rover stated that the vehicle's key recognition 
sequence includes in excess of a billion code combinations with 
encrypted data that is secure against duplication. The coded data 
transfer between modules also uses a unique, secure identifier, random 
number and a secure public algorithm. Furthermore, Land Rover stated 
that there is no means to bypass

[[Page 29753]]

the key locking system of the vehicle with force because the vehicle 
does not have a conventional mechanical key barrel since the LR2 is 
equipped with a push button vehicle ignition.
    Land Rover informed the agency that its LR2 vehicle line was first 
equipped with an engine immobilizer device beginning with its MY 2008 
vehicles and, as a result, there are no data available to compare the 
LR2 with an immobilizer device to an LR2 without an immobilizer device. 
Land Rover stated that based on MY 2008 and 2009 theft data information 
published by NHTSA, Land Rover LR2 vehicles equipped with immobilizers 
had a theft rate that was below the median. The average theft rates 
using 2 MYs' data are 0.7504 and 0.2904 respectively. Therefore, Land 
Rover has concluded that the antitheft device proposed for its vehicle 
line is no less effective than those devices in the lines for which 
NHTSA has already granted full exemption from the parts-marking 
requirements. Land Rover also stated that the immobilizer in the Land 
Rover LR2 line is no less effective than similar devices NHTSA has 
already granted full exemptions (i.e., Range Rover Evoque and Jaguar XK 
and XJ). Additionally, Land Rover notes a Highway Loss Data Institute 
news release (July 19, 2000) showing approximately a 50% reduction in 
theft for vehicles installed with an immobilizer device.
    Based on the supporting evidence submitted by Land Rover on the 
device, the agency believes that the antitheft device for the LR2 
vehicle line is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring 
motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements 
of the Theft Prevention Standard (49 CFR part 541). The agency 
concludes that the device will provide the five types of performance 
listed in Sec.  543.6(a)(3): promoting activation, attracting attention 
to the efforts of an unauthorized person to enter or move a vehicle by 
means other than a key, preventing defeat or circumvention of the 
device by unauthorized persons, preventing operation of the vehicle by 
unauthorized entrants and ensuring the reliability and durability of 
the device.
    Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 33106 and 49 CFR 543.7(b), the agency grants 
a petition for exemption from the parts-marking requirements of Part 
541 either in whole or in part, if it determines that, based upon 
substantial evidence, the standard equipment antitheft device is likely 
to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as 
compliance with the parts-marking requirements of Part 541. The agency 
finds that Land Rover has provided adequate reasons for its belief that 
the antitheft device for the Land Rover LR2 vehicle line is likely to 
be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as 
compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention 
Standard (49 CFR part 541). This conclusion is based on the information 
Land Rover provided about its device.
    For the foregoing reasons, the agency hereby grants in full Land 
Rover's petition for exemption for the Land Rover LR2 vehicle line from 
the parts-marking requirements of 49 CFR part 541, beginning with its 
2013 model year vehicles. The agency notes that 49 CFR part 541, 
Appendix A-1, identifies those lines that are exempted from the Theft 
Prevention Standard for a given model year. 49 CFR part 543.7(f) 
contains publication requirements incident to the disposition of all 
Part 543 petitions. Advanced listing, including the release of future 
product nameplates, the beginning model year for which the petition is 
granted and a general description of the antitheft device, is necessary 
in order to notify law enforcement agencies of new vehicle lines 
exempted from the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention 
Standard.
    If Land Rover decides not to use the exemption for this line, it 
shall formally notify the agency. If such a decision is made, the line 
must be fully marked as required by 49 CFR parts 541.5 and 541.6 
(marking of major component parts and replacement parts).
    NHTSA notes that if Land Rover wishes in the future to modify the 
device on which this exemption is based, the company may have to submit 
a petition to modify the exemption. Part 543.7(d) states that a Part 
543 exemption applies only to vehicles that belong to a line exempted 
under this part and equipped with the antitheft device on which the 
line's exemption is based. Further, Part 543.9(c)(2) provides for the 
submission of petitions ``to modify an exemption to permit the use of 
an antitheft device similar to but differing from the one specified in 
that exemption.''
    The agency wishes to minimize the administrative burden that Part 
543.9(c)(2) could place on exempted vehicle manufacturers and itself. 
The agency did not intend in drafting Part 543 to require the 
submission of a modification petition for every change to the 
components or design of an antitheft device. The significance of many 
such changes could be de minimis. Therefore, NHTSA suggests that if the 
manufacturer contemplates making any changes, the effects of which 
might be characterized as de minimis, it should consult the agency 
before preparing and submitting a petition to modify.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33106; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 
1.50.

    Issued on: May 11, 2012.
Christopher J. Bonanti,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2012-12050 Filed 5-17-12; 8:45 am]
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