Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 1993-1995 Volkswagen Eurovan Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29940-29941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14091]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-99-5735]


Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 1993-1995 
Volkswagen Eurovan Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1993-1995 Volkswagen Eurovan multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) 
are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
1993-1995 Volkswagen Eurovan MPVs 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 July 6, 1999.

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 am to 5 
pm)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

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 
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.
    J.K. Motors of Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer 
90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether non-U.S. certified 1993-
1995 Volkswagen Eurovan MPVs are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially 
similar are 1993-1995 Volkswagen Eurovan MPVs that were manufactured 
for importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by 
their manufacturer, Volkswagen, A.G., as conforming to all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified 
1993-1995 Volkswagen Eurovan MPVs 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.
    J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1993-1995 Volkswagen Eurovan MPVs, 
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 1993-
1995 Volkswagen Eurovan MPVs are identical to their U.S.-certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence * * *., 103 Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 119 
New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, 124 
Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior 
Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 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 Retention, 216 Roof Crush 
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    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) Substitution of a lens 
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with the ECE warning symbol on the brake 
failure indicator lamp; (b) replacement of the speedometer/odometer 
with one calibrated in miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front 
sidemarker lights; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies 
which incorporate rear sidemarker lights; (c) installation of U.S.-
model high mounted stop lamp.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch in the steering lock assembly and a warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: Installation of a relay in 
the power window system so that the window transport is inoperative 
when the ignition is switched off.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other 
than Passenger Cars: Installation of a tire information placard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of a 
seat belt warning buzzer, wired to the driver's seat belt latch; (b) 
replacement of the driver's and passenger's side air bags and knee 
bolsters with U.S.-model components if the vehicle is not already so 
equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with 
combination lap and shoulder restraints that are self-tensioning and 
release by means of a single push button at both front and both rear 
outboard designated seating positions, and with a lap belt in the rear 
center designated seating position.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of 
reinforcing

[[Page 29941]]

beams if the vehicle is not already so equipped.
    The petitioner states that a vehicle identification number plate 
must be affixed to all non-U.S. certified 1993-1995 Volkswagen Eurovan 
MPVs near the left windshield post and a reference and certification 
label must be added in the left front door post area 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. 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.

    Issued on: May 28, 1999.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-14091 Filed 6-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P