[Federal Register: December 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 69766-69768]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15de03-99]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2003-16672]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2003 Saab 9.3 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
2003 Saab 9.3 passenger cars are eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway
Traffic
[[Page 69767]]
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2003
Saab 9.3 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 January 14,
2004.
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 a.m.
to 5 p.m.]. 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 2003 Saab 9.3
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. The
vehicles which J.K. believes are substantially similar are 2003 Saab
9.3 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
2003 Saab 9.3 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 2003 Saab 9.3 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 2003
Saab 9.3 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, 114 Theft Protection, 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, 302 Flammability of Interior Materials, and 401
Interior Trunk Release.
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: reprogramming of the
instrument cluster to comply with the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: installation of U.S.-model front 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, or replacement
of that mirror with a U.S.-model component.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: inspection of all
vehicles to ensure that the front and rear seat belts are U.S.-model
components and installation of those components in vehicles that are
not already so equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicles comply
with the standard in all other respects.
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-theft markings 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 a.m. to 5 p.m.]. 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.
[[Page 69768]]
Issued on: December 9, 2003.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-30831 Filed 12-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P