[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 77984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28433]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 58-2004]


Foreign-Trade Zone 222--Montgomery, AL; Request for Manufacturing 
Authority, Mobis Alabama, LLC (Automotive Components and Subassemblies)

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, grantee of FTZ 
222, pursuant to section 400.32(b)(1) of the Board's regulations (15 
CFR part 400), requesting authority on behalf of Mobis Alabama, LLC 
(Mobis) (a subsidiary of Hyundai Mobis Company, of South Korea), to 
manufacture automotive components and subassemblies under FTZ 
procedures within FTZ 222. It was formally filed on December 15, 2004.
    Mobis operates a facility (600,000 sq.ft./400 employees) within the 
proposed new Site 3 of FTZ 222 (expansion application pending; Doc. 57-
2004; 69 FR 74492, 12-14-2004) located at 1395 Mitchell Young Road, 
Airport Industrial Park, in Montgomery, Alabama. The plant is used to 
produce automotive components and subassemblies for passenger vehicles, 
including: Chassis, bodies, body stampings, doors, transmissions, 
axles, spindles, half/drive shafts, hubs, universal joints, suspension 
parts, steering components, steering wheels, bumpers, airbag inflators, 
and brake hoses, for the U.S. market and export. The proposed 
manufacturing activity would involve the use of foreign-sourced 
components (initially representing about 60% of finished product 
value), including: Plastic tubes/pipe/fittings, sheets/film/foil/tape 
of plastic, plates/sheets/film/foil/strip of plastic and textile 
materials (items under Category 229 will be admitted under privileged 
foreign status--19 CFR 146.41), flexible rubber tubes/hoses, self-
adhesive plastic or polyurethane sheets/foil/film, labels, rubber 
belts, rubber sheets/strips/rods/profiles/plates, seats, seat belts, 
safety glass, mirrors, flat-rolled steel (will be admitted under 
privileged foreign status), stranded wire of steel and copper, pins, 
fasteners, cotter pins, parts of steering systems, half shafts, 
transmissions and parts of transmissions, gears, flywheels, torque 
converters, ball/roller screws, clutches, universal/CV joints, 
sprockets helical springs, brake cables, hangers, bearings, cylinder 
heads, connecting rods, compasses, thermometers, hydrometers, 
pyrometers, hygrometer, motors, batteries, ignition parts, lighting 
equipment, horns, windshield defrosters, audio (radio/CD/tape) 
components, antennas, alarm systems, electronic switches, automatic 
regulators, wiring harnesses, plastic handles/knobs, plastic gaskets/
seals/belts/fasteners, clasps, buckles, hooks, carpet sets, airbag 
modules/inflators, brake components, wheels, shock absorbers, 
radiators, exhaust systems, hinges, pneumatic cylinders/dampeners/
regulators, speedometers, tachometers, catalysts of platinum, locks, 
hinges, composite gaskets, springs, valves, compressors, pumps, air 
conditioners, relays, boards, panels, consoles, clocks, glass lenses, 
lighters, and switches (duty rate range: free--8.8%). The application 
states that the level of Mobis' domestic sourcing will increase in the 
future.
    FTZ procedures would exempt Mobis from Customs duty payments on the 
foreign components used in production for export to non-NAFTA 
countries. On shipments for U.S. consumption and to NAFTA markets, the 
company would be able to elect the finished automotive components and 
subassembly duty rates (2.5%) for the foreign components listed above 
that have higher individual rates. The auto duty rate (2.5%) would 
apply if the finished components and subassemblies are shipped via 
zone-to-zone transfer to U.S. motor vehicle assembly plants with 
subzone status. The application indicates that the savings from FTZ 
procedures would help improve the facility's international 
competitiveness.
    Public comment on the application is invited from interested 
parties. Submissions (original and three copies) shall be addressed to 
the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing date 
for their receipt is February 28, 2005. Rebuttal comments in response 
to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted 
during the subsequent 15-day period March 14, 2005.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the following location: Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-
Trade Zones Board, Franklin Court Building--Rm. 4100W, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, 1099 14th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005.

    Dated: December 15, 2004.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-28433 Filed 12-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P