[Federal Register: April 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 67)]
[Notices]
[Page 17955-17956]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap06-137]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2006-24310]
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming
2005 Mini Cooper Convertible Passenger Cars Manufactured for the
European Market Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
2005 Mini Cooper convertible passenger cars manufactured for the
European market 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
2005 Mini Cooper convertible passenger cars manufactured for the
European market 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 May 8, 2006.
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.
Automobile Concepts, Inc. (``AMC''), of North Miami, Florida
(Registered Importer 01-278) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
nonconforming 2005 Mini Cooper convertible passenger cars manufactured
for the European market are eligible for importation into the United
States. The vehicles which AMC believes are substantially similar are
2005 Mini Cooper convertible 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
2005 Mini Cooper convertible passenger cars manufactured for the
European market 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.
AMC submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that non-U.S. certified 2005 Mini Cooper convertible passenger cars
manufactured for the European market, 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 2005
Mini Cooper convertible passenger cars manufactured for the European
market are identical to their U.S. certified counterparts with respect
to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever 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 Tires, 113 Hood Latch
System, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control
Systems, 135 Passenger Car Brake 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, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side
Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone
Intrusion, 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, and 302 Flammability
of Interior Materials.
The 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) Inscription of the word
``brake'' on the instrument cluster in place of the international ECE
warning symbol, and (b) replacement or conversion of the speedometer to
read in miles per hour.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: Installation of U.S.-model headlamps, and front and rear
mounted side marker lamps.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning
statement on the face of that mirror.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of U.S. version
software to meet the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel
Systems: Installation of U.S. version software to ensure that the
systems meet the requirements of this standard.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of
U.S. version software to ensure that the seat belt warning system meets
the requirements of this standard, and (b) inspection of all vehicles
and replacement of any non-U.S.-model components needed to achieve
conformity with this standard with U.S.-model components.
Petitioner states that the vehicle's restraint system components
include U.S.-model airbags and knee bolsters, and combination lap and
shoulder belts
[[Page 17956]]
at the outboard front designated seating positions.
Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of all vehicles
and replacement of any non-U.S.-model seat belts with U.S.-model
components on vehicles not already so equipped.
Standard No. 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages: Inspection of all
vehicles and replacement of any non-U.S.-model seat belt anchorage
components with U.S.-model components on vehicles not already so
equipped.
Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Inspection of all vehicles
and installation of U.S.-model components, on vehicles that are not
already so equipped.
Standard No. 401 Interior Trunk Release: Installation of U.S.-model
components on vehicles that are not already so equipped.
The petitioner also states that all vehicles will be inspected for
conformity with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581 and that
any non-U.S.-model components necessary for conformity with this
standard will be replaced with U.S.-model components.
The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield 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.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. E6-5050 Filed 4-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P