[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42156-42157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20521]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-049; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1988-1989 Audi 80 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1988-1989 Audi 80 passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 1988-
1989 Audi 80 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 September 4, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice 
number, and be submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) 
of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (the Act)), 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 (formerly section 114 of the Act), 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.
    Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1988-1989 Audi 80 passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicles which Champagne believes are substantially 
similar are 1988-1989 Audi 80 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 
1988-1989 Audi 80 passenger cars to their U.S. certified counterpart, 
and found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1988-1989 Audi 80 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

[[Page 42157]]

capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 1988-
1989 Audi 80 passenger cars are identical to their U.S. certified 
counterparts with respect to compliance with Standards 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, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 201 Occupant 
Protection in Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact 
Resistance for the Driver from the Steering Control System, 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, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Petitioner also contends that non-U.S. certified 1988-1989 Audi 80 
passenger cars are capable of being readily altered to meet the 
following standards, in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) Substitution of a lens 
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with a noncomplying symbol on the brake 
failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp 
that displays the appropriate symbol; (c) recalibration of the 
speedometer/odometer from kilometers to miles per hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies; (b) 
installation of U.S.-model sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) 
installation of U.S.-model taillamp assemblies; (d) installation of a 
high mounted stop lamp.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: Replacement of the convex 
passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of 
either a U.S.--model seat belt in the driver's position, or a belt 
webbing actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor; 
(b) installation of an ignition switch actuated seat belt warning lamp 
and buzzer. The petitioner states that the vehicles are equipped with a 
combination lap and shoulder restraint that adjusts by means of an 
automatic retractor and releases by means of a single push button at 
each front designated seating position, with a combination lap and 
shoulder restraint that releases by means of a single push button at 
each rear outboard designated seating position, and with a lap belt in 
the rear center designated seating position.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of 
reinforcing beams.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the 
evaporative emissions collection canister.
    The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification number 
plate must be affixed to non- U.S. certified 1988-1989 Audi 80 
passenger cars to meet the requirements of 49 CFR Part 565.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on non-U.S. 
certified 1988-1989 Audi 80 passenger cars must be reinforced to comply 
with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition 
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be 
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. 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: July 30, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-20521 Filed 8-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P