[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6371-6372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2740]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2004-16999]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2002-2004 Aston Martin Vanquish Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2002-2004 Aston Martin Vanquish passenger cars are eligible for 
importation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
2002-2004 Aston Martin Vanquish 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 March 11, 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.
    Webautoworld.com Corp. of Pampano Beach, Florida (``Webautoworld'') 
(Registered Importer 02-295) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
2002-2004 Aston Martin Vanquish passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which Webautoworld 
believes are substantially similar are 2002-2004 Aston Martin Vanquish 
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 
2002-2004 Aston Martin Vanquish 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.
    Webautoworld submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 2002-2004 Aston Martin Vanquish 
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 2002-
2004 Aston Martin Vanquish passenger cars are identical to their U.S. 
certified counterparts with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 
101 Controls and Displays, 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 
Window Systems, 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, 209 Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 
212 Windshield Mounting, 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.
    The petitioner claims that the vehicles also comply with the Bumper 
Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
    The petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies and 
sidemarker lights with reflectors; (b) installation of U.S.-model tail 
light assemblies and sidemarker lights with reflectors.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the passenger side 
rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component or inscription of the 
required warning statement on the mirror's face.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Programming of the vehicle's 
computer

[[Page 6372]]

to activate the key warning buzzer and the belt warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Reprogramming of the 
vehicle's computer to activate the seat belt warning system. The 
petitioner states that the vehicles should be equipped at the front and 
rear outboard seating positions with combination lap and shoulder belts 
that are self-tensioning and that release by means of a single red 
pushbutton. The petitioner further states that the vehicles are 
equipped with driver's and passenger's airbags, and with a seat belt 
warning lamp that is identical to the lamp installed on U.S.-certified 
models.
    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.

    Issued on: February 4, 2004.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 04-2740 Filed 2-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P