[Federal Register: October 24, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 206)]
[Notices]
[Page 61034-61035]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24oc03-143]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16334]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2000 Audi A8 and S8 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
2000 Audi A8 and S8 passenger cars 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
2000 Audi A8 and S8 passenger cars 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 November 24,
2003.
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]. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit
http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).
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. Technologies of Baltimore, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 2000 Audi A8
and S8 passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United
States. The vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially similar are
2000 Audi A8 and S8 passenger cars that were manufactured for
importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by their
manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared non-U.S. certified
2000 Audi A8 and S8 passenger cars 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 2000 Audi A8 and S8 passenger cars,
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 2000
Audi A8 and S8 passenger cars 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, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood Latch
Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 118 Power-Operated Window Systems, 124
Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in Interior
Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 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, 214 Side Impact
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion,
225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and
302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
Petitioner states that the vehicles also comply with the Bumper
Standard found at 49 CFR part 581.
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: replacement of the
instrument cluster with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamps and front
sidemarker lamps; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies,
which incorporate rear sidemarker lamps.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: inscription of the required
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: programming of the vehicles to
activate the ignition key warning and the seat belt warning systems.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: reprogramming of the
seat belt warning system so that it activates in the proper manner. The
petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with automated
restraint systems consisting of dual front air bags. The petitioner
also states that the vehicles are equipped with combination lap and
shoulder belts at the front and rear outboard designated seating
positions that are self-tensioning and release by means of a single red
pushbutton. The
[[Page 61035]]
petitioner describes these components and systems as identical to U.S.-
model components and systems.
The petitioner states that all vehicles must be inspected to ensure
compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard at 49 CFR part 541, and
that anti-thefts marking must be added to vehicles that are not already
so marked.
The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must
be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post and a
reference and certification label must be affixed in the area of the
left front door post 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. [Docket hours are from 9 am to 5 pm]. 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: October 17, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-26872 Filed 10-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P