[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72131-72132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-28139]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2019-0115; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Model Year 2015 Porsche 918 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

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

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) receipt of a petition for a decision that model 
year (MY) 2015 Porsche 918 passenger cars (PCs) that were not 
originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards (FMVSS), are eligible for importation into the 
United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles that 
were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that 
were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety 
standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 2015 Porsche 918 PCs) and 
are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is January 29, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written data, 
views, and arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the 
docket and notice number cited in the title of this notice and may be 
submitted by any of the following methods:
     Mail: Send comments by mail addressed to the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver comments by hand to the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590. The Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
except for Federal Holidays.
     Electronically: Submit comments electronically by logging 
onto the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Comments may also be faxed to (202) 493-2251.
    Comments must be written in the English language, and be no greater 
than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to the length of 
necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are submitted in 
hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are provided. If you wish 
to receive confirmation that comments you have submitted by mail were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard along with 
the comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without 
change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided.
    All comments and supporting materials received before the close of 
business on the closing date indicated above will be filed in the 
docket and will be considered. All comments and supporting materials 
received after the closing date will also be filed and will be 
considered to the fullest extent possible.
    All comments, background documentation, and supporting materials 
submitted to the docket may be viewed by anyone at the address and 
times given above. The documents may also be viewed on the internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov by following the online instructions for 
accessing the dockets. The docket ID number for this petition is shown 
in the heading of this notice.
    DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement is available for review in a 
Federal Register notice published on April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477-78).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Mazurowski, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-1012).

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 FMVSS 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 MY as the 
model of the motor vehicle to be compared,

[[Page 72132]]

and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable 
FMVSS.
    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 
of each petition that it receives in the Federal Register, 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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. (WETL), 
(Registered Importer R-90-005), of Houston, Texas has petitioned NHTSA 
to decide whether nonconforming 2015 Porsche 918 PCs are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which Wallace 
Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. believes are substantially 
similar are MY 2015 Porsche 918 PCs sold in the United States and 
certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner claims that it compared non-U.S. certified MY 2015 
Porsche 918 PCs to their U.S. certified counterparts, and found the 
vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance with 
most FMVSS.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. submitted 
information with its petition intended to demonstrate that non-U.S. 
certified MY 2015 Porsche 918 PCs, as originally manufactured, conform 
to many applicable FMVSS 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 the non-U.S. 
certified MY 2015 Porsche 918 PCs, as originally manufactured, conform 
to: FMVSS Nos. 102, Transmission Shift Position 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 and Certain Specialty Tires, 110, Tire 
Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load 
Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 
kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less, 113, Hood Latch System, 114, Theft 
Protection, 116, Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118, Power-Operated 
Window, Partition, and Roof Panel System, 124, Accelerator Control 
Systems, 126, Electronic Stability Control Systems for light vehicles, 
135, Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 138, Tire Pressure Monitoring 
Systems, 201, Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202, Head 
Restraints; Applicable at the Manufacturers Option until September 1, 
2009, 203, Impact Protection for the Driver from the Steering Control 
System, 204, Steering Control Rearward Displacement, 205, Glazing 
Materials, 206, Door Locks and Door Retention Components, 207, Seating 
Systems, 209, Seat Belt Assemblies, 210, Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 
212, Windshield Mounting, 214, Side Impact Protection, 216, Roof Crush 
Resistance; Applicable unless a Vehicle is Certified to Sec.  571.216a, 
219, Windshield Zone Intrusion, 225, Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, 
301, Fuel System Integrity, and 302, Flammability of Interior 
Materials.
    The petitioner also contends that the subject non-U.S certified 
vehicles are capable of being readily altered to meet the following 
FMVSS, in the manner indicated:
    FMVSS No. 101, Controls and Displays: Programming of the 
speedometer and addition of the word ``BRAKE'' to the instrument 
cluster. FMVSS No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated 
Equipment: Replacement of headlamps and taillamps. FMVSS No. 111, Rear 
Visibility: Inscription of the required warning statement on the face 
of the passenger mirror. FMVSS No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection: 
Addition of knee bolsters. FMVSS No. 401, Internal Trunk Release: 
Addition of a trunk release.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicle, near the left windshield pillar, 
to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565, as well as, a reference 
and certification label added to the left front door post area to meet 
the requirements of 49 CFR part 567.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49 
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

Otto G. Matheke III,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019-28139 Filed 12-27-19; 8:45 am]
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