[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18660-18661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8962]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-24; Notice 1]


Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1994 Porsche 
964 Turbo Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1994 Porsche 964 Turbo 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 a 1994 
Porsche 964 Turbo that was not originally manufactured to comply with 
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for 
importation into the United States because (1) it is substantially 
similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for importation 
into and sale in the United States and that was certified by its 
manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) it is 
capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATE: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 12, 1995.

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 am to 4 pm]

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.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc. of Houston, Texas 
(``Wallace'') (Registered Importer R-90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to 
decide whether 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Wallace believes 
is substantially similar is the 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo. Wallace has 
submitted information indicating that the 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo was 
certified as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards and was offered for sale in the United States.
    The petitioner contends that it carefully compared the 964 and the 
911 Turbos, and found the two models to be substantially similar with 
respect to compliance with most applicable Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards.
    Wallace submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo, as originally 
manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards 
in the same manner as the 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo that was offered for 
sale in the United States, or is capable of being readily altered to 
conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo 
is identical to the certified 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo with respect to 
compliance with [[Page 18661]] Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift 
Lever Sequence * * *, 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 
Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 
Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 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 
Protection 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, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel 
Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 214 Side Impact 
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is 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 an ECE symbol on the brake failure 
indicator lamp; (b) recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from 
kilometers to miles per hours.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies; (b) 
installation of U.S.-model turn signal lenses; (c) installation of a 
high mounted stop lamp.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Inscription of the required 
warning statement on the passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning 
buzzer.
    Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: Installation of a 
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and 
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the 
driver.
    Standard No. 118 Power Window Systems: Rewiring of the power window 
system so that the window transport is inoperative when the ignition is 
switched off.

    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a 
safety belt warning system and a microswitch in the driver's seat belt 
latch. The petitioner states that the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo is 
equipped with a passive restraint system consisting of driver and 
passenger side air bags and knee bolsters that are identical to those 
found on the U.S. certified 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo. The petitioner also 
states that all four seating positions in the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo 
are equipped with Type 2 seat belts that comply with the standard.

    Additionally, the petitioner states that the 1994 Porsche 964 Turbo 
must be equipped with front and rear bumper shocks 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: April 6, 1995.

Marilynne E. Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 95-8962 Filed 6-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M