[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35053-35054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15776]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2018-0011; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Model Year 2013 Porsche Panamera Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
certain model year (MY) 2013 Porsche Panamera passenger cars (PCs) that 
were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation 
into the United States because they are substantially similar to 
vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United 
States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with 
the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the MY 2013 Porsche 
Panamera PCs) and are capable of being readily altered to conform to 
the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is August 23, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written data, 
views, and arguments on this petition. Comments must refer to the 
docket and notice number cited in the title of this notice and may be 
submitted by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Mail: Send comments by mail addressed to U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver comments by hand to U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. The 
Docket Section is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except 
Federal Holidays.
    <bullet> Electronically: Submit comments electronically by logging 
onto the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at https://www.regulations.gov/. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    <bullet> Comments may also be faxed to (202) 493-2251.
    Comments must be written in the English language, and be no greater 
than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to the length of 
necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are submitted in 
hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are provided. If you wish 
to receive confirmation that comments you have submitted by mail were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.
    All comments, background documentation, and supporting materials 
submitted to the docket may be viewed by anyone at the address and 
times given above. The documents may also be viewed on the internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov by following the online instructions for 
accessing the dockets. The docket ID number for this petition is shown 
in the heading of this notice.
    DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement is available for review in a 
Federal Register notice published on April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477-78).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Stevens, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA, telephone (202) 366-5308.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. History: Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that 
was not originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS (49 
CFR part 571) shall be refused admission into the United States unless 
NHTSA has decided that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a 
motor vehicle

[[Page 35054]]

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 FMVSS.
    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 Processing of Petitions, 
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.
    II. Summary of Petition: J.K. Technologies, LLC (JK), of Baltimore, 
Maryland (Registered Importer R-90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
whether nonconforming MY 2013 Porsche Panamera PCs are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles that JK believes are 
substantially similar are MY 2013 Porsche Panamera PCs manufactured for 
sale in the United States, and certified by their manufacturer as 
conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the subject non-U.S.-certified vehicles as originally 
manufactured, conform to many applicable FMVSS 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 the non-U.S.-certified MY 
2013 Porsche Panamera PCs, as originally manufactured, conform to: 
Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter 
Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting 
and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 
Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor 
Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof 
Panel Systems, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 126 Electronic 
Stability Control Systems for Light Vehicles, 135 Light Vehicle Brake 
Systems, 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, 201 Occupant Protection 
in Interior Impact, 202a Head Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward 
Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention 
Components, 207 Seating Systems, 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, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The petitioner also contends that the subject non-U.S.-certified 
vehicles are capable of being readily altered to meet the following 
standards in the manners indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: Replacement of the 
instrument cluster with the U.S.-model component and reprogramming of 
its software as described in the petition.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Replacement of the headlamps, taillamps, and front and rear 
side markers with U.S.-model components. Reprogramming of the vehicle's 
software must also be performed to activate these systems.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation 
Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles 
with a GVWR of 4,536 Kilograms (10,000 Pounds) or Less: Installation of 
the required tire information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rear Visibility: Replacement of the passenger side 
mirror with the U.S.-model, or inscription of the required warning 
statement on the face of the existing mirror.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Replacement of the 
seatbelt assemblies and the air bag control unit. In addition, 
replacement of the front passenger side seat weight sensing system--
including the sensor mat and seat cushion, airbag warning telltale, 
seat wiring harness, and sun visor. After installation of these 
components, the vehicle's software must be updated and correct 
installation and operation confirmed using an appropriate diagnostic 
programming tool as described in the petition. All air bag warning 
labels and owner manual inserts must be inspected for compliance with 
the requirements in the standard and added or replaced with U.S.-model 
versions if not already present on the vehicle.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Replacement of seat belt 
assemblies with U.S.-certified components as previously stated under 
FMVSS No. 208.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: During installation of 
U.S.-model components and software as described in the petition to meet 
the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 
requirements of this standard will be complied with and maintained.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicle near the left windshield pillar to 
meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
    III. Comments: All comments and supporting materials received 
before the close of business on the closing date indicated above will 
be filed in the docket and considered. To the extent possible, comments 
filed after the closing date will also be considered to the fullest 
extent possible and available for examination in the docket at the 
above addresses.
    Once the petition is granted or denied, notice of the decision will 
be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority 
indicated at the end of this notice.
    This notice of receipt of the subject petition does not represent 
any agency decision or other exercise of judgment concerning the merits 
of the petition. 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), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49 
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

Michael A. Cole,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-15776 Filed 7-23-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P