Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 111 / Friday, June 7, 1996 / Rules and Regulations 29031

element of the range management

program concerns acquisition through

the lease of State, county or privately

owned land within a grazing district. As

a result, these regulations were grouped

with unrelated acquisitions such as gifts

and exchanges. The new 43 CFR Part

4600 will be contained in Subchapter D,

entitled Range Management. Since all

regulations concerning range

management are in Subchapter D,

transferring the regulations formerly at

43 CFR Part 2120 to Subchapter D will

consolidate all range regulations in one

place thus making it more convenient.

A cross-reference to new Subpart 4600

has been added in 43 CFR 4130.2 and

a cross-reference corrected 43 CFR

2121.5.

Procedural Matters

The BLM has determined for good

cause that notice and public procedure

pursuant to the Administrative

Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B)) are

unnecessary for this rulemaking. Notice

and public participation are

unnecessary because the rulemaking

merely transfers existing regulations to

a new Part of Title 43 of the Code of

Federal Regulations, adds a crossreference, and corrects a cross reference.

No substantive change has been made to

the regulations except to redesignate

numbering, provide a cross reference to

new Part 4600 in Part 4100, and correct

a cross reference in newly designated

Section 4160.5.

The principal author of this final rule

is Frank Bruno, Regulatory Management

Team, BLM.

This rule is an administrative action

and not subject to the Office of

Management and Budget review under

Executive Order 12866.

It is hereby determined that this final

rule does not constitute a major Federal

action significantly affecting the quality

of the human environment, and that no

detailed statement pursuant to Section

102(2)(C) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.

4332(2)(C)) is required. The BLM has

determined that this final rule, which is

a purely administrative action, is

categorically excluded from further

environmental review pursuant to 516

Departmental Manual (DM), Chapter 2,

Appendix 1, Item 1.10, and that the

proposal would not significantly affect

the 10 criteria for exceptions listed in

516 DM 2, Appendix 2. Pursuant to the

Council on Environmental Quality

regulations (40 CFR 1508.4) and

environmental policies and procedures

of the Department of the Interior,

‘‘categorical exclusions’’ means a

category of actions that the Department

has determined ordinarily do not

individually or cumulatively have a

significant effect on the human

environment.

The rule will not have a significant

impact on a substantial number of small

entities under the Regulatory Flexibility

Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) because it

merely transfers a regulation to another

Part of Title 43 of the Code of Federal

Regulations and makes no substantive

change.

This rule does not contain

information collection requirements that

require approval by the Office of

Management and Budget under 44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 4600

Grazing lands.

Dated: May 29, 1996.

Bob Armstrong,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

PART 2120—[REDESIGNATED AS

PART 4600]

I

1. Part 2120 is redesignated as 43 CFR

Part 4600 in new Group 4600—Leases as

shown in the following redesignation

table:

REDESIGNATION TABLE

Old 43 CFR part 2120 New 43 CFR part

4600

Subpart 2120 ............. Subpart 4600.

2120.0–2 ................... 4600.0–2.

2120.0–3 ................... 4600.0–3.

Subpart 2121 ............. Subpart 4610.

2121.1 ....................... 4610.1.

2121.1–1 ................... 4610.1–1.

2121.1–2 ................... 4610.1–2.

2121.2 ....................... 4610.2.

2121.2–1 ................... 4610.2–1.

2121.2–2 ................... 4610.2–2.

2121.2–3 ................... 4610.2–3.

2121.3 ....................... 4610.3.

2121.4 ....................... 4610.4.

2121.4–1 ................... 4610.4–1.

2121.4–2 ................... 4610.4–2.

2121.4–3 ................... 4610.4–3.

2121.5 ....................... 4610.5.

2. The authority for the redesignated

Part 4600 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 48 Stat. 1270; 43 U.S.C. 315a.

Subpart 4130—Authorizing Grazing

Use

3. Section 4130.2 is amended by

adding paragraph (j) to read as follows:

4130.2 Grazing permits or leases.

* * * * *

(j) Provisions explaining how grazing

permits or authorizations may be

granted for grazing use on state, county

or private land leased by the Bureau of

Land Management under ‘‘The Pierce

Act’’ and located within grazing

districts are explained in 43 CFR part

4600.

PART 4600—LEASES OF GRAZING

LAND—PIERCE ACT

4. The title of the newly designated

part 4600, formerly part 2120, is revised

to read as set forth above.

Subpart 4600—General

5. The title of the newly designated

subpart 4600, formerly subpart 2120,

revised to read as set forth above.

§ 4610.5 Improvements by the United

States on leased lands.

6. Newly designated section 4610.5,

formerly section 2121.5, is amended by

removing ‘‘part 4110 of this chapter’’

and replacing it with ‘‘subpart 4120 of

Subchapter D.’’

[FR Doc. 96–14097 Filed 6–6–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–84–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

49 CFR Parts 541, 565, 567, 571

[Docket No. 95–85; Notice 2]

RIN 2127–AF69

Vehicle Identification Number

Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA),

Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: In this final rule, NHTSA

combines its vehicle identification

number (VIN) requirements in a single

regulation, Part 565. Previously, the VIN

requirements were specified in two

separate regulations, Federal Motor

Vehicle Safety Standard No. 115 and

Part 565. This action is part of the

President’s Regulatory Reinvention

Initiative and seeks to make NHTSA’s

VIN requirements easier to understand

and to apply. In accordance with

Federal metrication policy, NHTSA also

converts English measurements

specified in Part 565 to metric

measurements. NHTSA makes no

substantive changes in any regulatory

requirements.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is

effective July 8, 1996.

Petitions for Reconsideration: Any

petitions for reconsideration of this final

rule must be received by NHTSA no

later than July 22, 1996.
29032 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 111 / Friday, June 7, 1996 / Rules and Regulations

ADDRESSES: Any petitions for

reconsideration of this final rule should

refer to the docket and notice number

set forth in the heading of this notice

and be submitted to: Administrator,

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration, 400 Seventh Street,

SW., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.

Leon Delarm, Office of Vehicle Safety

Standards, National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration, 400 Seventh

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

Telephone number 202–366–4920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Regulatory

Reinvention Initiative

Pursuant to the March 4, 1995

directive from the President to the heads

of departments and agencies,

‘‘Regulatory Reinvention Initiative,’’

NHTSA reviewed all its regulations and

directives. During this review, the

agency identified not only those rules or

portions of rules that might be deleted

or rescinded but also rules that could be

consolidated to avoid duplication or

redrafted to make them easier to read.

NHTSA’s vehicle identification number

requirements were identified as a

candidate for amendment to make the

requirements easier to understand and

to apply.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

In a notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM) published October 25, 1995 (60

FR 54658), the agency proposed to

transfer the text of Federal Motor

Vehicle Safety Standard No. 115 (49

CFR 571.115) Vehicle identification

number—basic requirements to Part 565

Vehicle identification number—content

requirements. A vehicle identification

number (VIN) is a seventeen character

series of Arabic numbers and Roman

letters which is assigned to a vehicle for

identification purposes. Standard No.

115 specifies general physical

requirements for a VIN plate or label

and its installation and Part 565

specifies VIN content and format.

In the NPRM, NHTSA stated its

tentative conclusion that consolidation

of the VIN requirements into one

regulation would make it easier for

motor vehicle manufacturers to

understand and to apply those

requirements. Many small

manufacturers of motor vehicles

(including trailers) apparently find the

necessity of consulting two separate VIN

regulations (i.e., Standard No. 115 and

Part 565) cumbersome and confusing.

Thus, NHTSA proposed to consolidate

all VIN requirements into one

regulation. NHTSA stated it did not

intend to make any substantive changes

to its VIN requirements as a result of the

proposed consolidation.

Since VIN requirements are

referenced in other NHTSA regulations,

such as Part 541 Federal Motor Vehicle

Theft Prevention Standard and Part 567

Certification, NHTSA also proposed to

make conforming changes to those

references.

NHTSA also proposed to convert part

565 measurements from the English

system of measurement to the metric

system. The metric conversions were

proposed so NHTSA could continue to

implement the Federal policy that the

metric system of measurement is the

preferred system of weights and

measures for United States trade and

commerce. Specifically, NHTSA

proposed that English unit

measurements of gross vehicle weight

ratings (GVWRs) in Table II of part 565

be exactly converted to the metric

system. Thus, the agency proposed that

a GVWR of 10,000 pounds be converted

to 4536 kilograms (kg.), the exact

converted figure, instead of 4500 kg, the

equivalent converted figure. To

accommodate those persons unfamiliar

with the metric system, NHTSA

proposed that part 565 present the

English and metric measurements

indefinitely.

Public Comments on the NPRM and

NHTSA’s Responses

In response to the NPRM, NHTSA

received comments from Advocates for

Highway and Auto Safety, Chrysler,

Flxible Corporation, Ford, National

Automobile Dealers Association

(NADA), Navistar, General Motors and

Toyota. Advocates, Chrysler, Ford,

General Motors and NADA agreed with

NHTSA’s proposal to consolidate all

VIN requirements in Part 565, and to

provide measurements in both English

and metric units.

Several commenters noted

typographical errors. Ford, General

Motors, and Navistar each pointed out

the same typographical errors in the

proposed text of sections 565.6(a) and

565.6(b). NHTSA agrees with the

recommended corrections and makes

them in the final rule. Toyota stated its

belief that there was a discrepancy

between proposed section 565.7(b) and

proposed section 565.7(d) as to

deadlines for manufacturers to provide

VIN information to NHTSA. After

reviewing Part 565, NHTSA notes that

the reference to ‘‘paragraph (b)’’ in

proposed section 565.7(d) was a

typographical error, and removes the

reference in the final rule.

Flxible Corporation expressed

concern that metrication of the

measurements in the VIN requirements

(but retaining English measurements for

the present) may result in both English

and metric units being displayed on VIN

tags, necessitating larger tags. There

appears to have been a

misunderstanding about the proposal. In

commenting, Flxible may have been

assuming that this rulemaking would

somehow have affected its obligation

under 49 CFR Part 567, Certification, to

state a vehicle’s GVWR on its

certification label. Nothing that NHTSA

proposed for Part 565 would amend Part

567 or otherwise result in manufacturers

providing information in addition to the

seventeen digits specified as the VIN.

NHTSA notes that its proposal to

metricate Part 565 would only amend

Table II. Table II specifies GVWR classes

for motor vehicles. Previously, the Table

II GVWR classes were only described

according to English measurements. The

NPRM proposed that the weight classes

be described in the regulation according

to both metric and English

measurements. While a vehicle’s GVWR

class, as determined under Table II,

must be encoded in its VIN, the class is

not required by Part 565 to be directly

placed on the vehicle. The GVWR class

is not currently required by Part 565 to

be placed on the vehicle in English

units and will not be required as a result

of this rulemaking to be placed on the

vehicle in both units.

Final Rule

NHTSA is adopting its proposal

without change, except that it has

corrected the previously discussed

typographical errors noted by Ford,

General Motors, Navistar and Toyota.

Effective Date

In the NPRM, NHTSA tentatively

decided that there was good cause

shown for concluding that an effective

date earlier than 180 days after issuance

would be in the public interest. The

agency proposed that, if adopted, the

effective date for the final rule be 30

days after its publication in the Federal

Register. NHTSA received no comments

on this issue. Accordingly, the agency

has decided that there is good cause

shown for concluding that an effective

date earlier than 180 days after issuance

is in the public interest. The final rule

will take effect 30 days after its

publication in the Federal Register.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

1. Executive Order 12866 and DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures

This final rule was not reviewed

under E. O. 12866 (Regulatory Planning

and Review). NHTSA has analyzed the
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 111 / Friday, June 7, 1996 / Rules and Regulations 29033

impact of this rulemaking action and

determined that it is not ‘‘significant’’

within the meaning of the Department

of Transportation’s regulatory policies

and procedures. The rule does not

impose any costs or yield any savings,

but consolidates the agency’s

requirements for manufacturers to

assign vehicle identification numbers

(VINs) to motor vehicles. The changes

make it easier for manufacturers to

understand and apply the VIN

requirements. The agency makes no

substantive changes as a result of the

consolidation. Since there are no

impacts, preparation of a full regulatory

evaluation is not warranted.

2. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The agency has considered the effects

of this regulatory action under the

Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby

certify that the final rule will not have

a significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities. As

explained above, the rule does not

impose any new costs or provide any

savings. It will make it easier for motor

vehicle manufacturers, many of which

are small businesses, to understand and

apply the agency’s requirements for

vehicle identification numbers. For

these reasons, small businesses, small

governmental organizations, and small

organizations which purchase motor

vehicles or rely on VINs for other

recordkeeping or administrative matters,

will not be affected by the rule.

Accordingly, a final regulatory

flexibility analysis has not been

prepared.

3. Paperwork Reduction Act

The information collection

requirements in this rule have been

submitted to and approved by the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB)

pursuant to the requirements of the

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.

3501 et seq.). This collection of

information has been assigned OMB

Control Number 2127–0510

(‘‘Consolidated VIN Requirements and

Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention

Standard’’) and has been approved for

use through June 30, 1996. NHTSA has

undertaken measures for OMB approval

to extend this collection of information.

4. Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)

This final rule has been analyzed in

accordance with the principles and

criteria contained in Executive Order

12612. The agency has determined that

the rule does not have sufficient

Federalism implications to warrant

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

No State laws will be affected.

5. National Environmental Policy Act

The agency has considered the

environmental implications of this final

rule in accordance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and

determined that the final rule will not

have any significant impact on the

quality of the human environment.

6. Executive Order 12778 (Civil Justice

Reform)

This final rule will not have any

retroactive effect. Under 49 U.S.C.

30103, whenever a Federal motor

vehicle safety standard is in effect, a

State may not adopt or maintain a safety

standard applicable to the same aspect

of performance which is not identical to

the Federal standard, except to the

extent that State requirement imposes a

higher level of performance and applies

only to vehicles procured for the State’s

use. 49 U.S.C. 30161 sets forth a

procedure for judicial review of final

rules establishing, amending or revoking

Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

This section does not require

submission of a petition for

reconsideration or other administrative

procedures before parties may file suit

in court.

List of Subjects

49 CFR Part 541

Crime, Labeling, Motor vehicles,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

49 CFR Part 565

Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.

49 CFR Part 567

Labeling, Motor vehicle safety,

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

49 CFR Part 571

Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements, Tires.

In consideration of the foregoing,

NHTSA is amending 49 CFR parts 541,

565, 567, and 571 as set forth below.

PART 541—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 541

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33101, 33102, 33103,

33105; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

2. In § 541.4, paragraph (b)(7) is

revised to read as follows:

§ 541.4 Definitions.

* * * * *

(b) Other definitions. * * *

(7) VIN means the vehicle

identification number required by part

565 of this chapter.

3. Part 565 is revised to read as

follows:

PART 565—VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER REQUIREMENTS

Sec.

565.1 Purpose and scope.

565.2 Applicability.

565.3 Definitions.

565.4 General requirements.

565.5 Motor vehicles imported into the

United States.

565.6 Content requirements.

565.7 Reporting requirements.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115,

30117, 30141, 30146, 30166, and 30168;

delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

§ 565.1 Purpose and scope.

This part specifies the format, content

and physical requirements for a vehicle

identification number (VIN) system and

its installation to simplify vehicle

identification information retrieval and

to increase the accuracy and efficiency

of vehicle recall campaigns.

§ 565.2 Applicability.

This part applies to passenger cars,

multipurpose passenger vehicles,

trucks, buses, trailers (including trailer

kits), incomplete vehicles, and

motorcycles. Vehicles imported into the

United States under 49 CFR 591.5(f),

other than by the corporation

responsible for the assembly of that

vehicle or a subsidiary of such a

corporation, are excluded from

requirements of § 565.4(b), § 565.4(c),

§ 565.4(g), § 565.4(h), § 565.5 and

§ 565.6.

§ 565.3 Definitions.

(a) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

Standards Definitions. Unless otherwise

indicated, all terms used in this part

that are defined in 49 CFR 571.3 are

used as defined in 49 CFR 571.3.

(b) Body type means the general

configuration or shape of a vehicle

distinguished by such characteristics as

the number of doors or windows, cargocarrying features and the roofline (e.g.,

sedan, fastback, hatchback).

(c) Check digit means a single number

or the letter X used to verify the

accuracy of the transcription of the

vehicle identification number.

(d) Engine type means a power source

with defined characteristics such as fuel

utilized, number of cylinders,

displacement, and net brake

horsepower. The specific manufacturer

and make shall be represented if the

engine powers a passenger car or a

multipurpose passenger vehicle, or

truck with a gross vehicle weight rating

of 4536 kg. (10,000 lbs.) or less.

(e) Incomplete vehicle means an

assemblage consisting, as a minimum, of
29034 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 111 / Friday, June 7, 1996 / Rules and Regulations

frame and chassis structure, power

train, steering system, suspension

system and braking system, to the extent

that those systems are to be part of the

completed vehicle, that requires further

manufacturing operations, other than

the addition of readily attachable

components, such as mirrors or tire and

rim assemblies, or minor finishing

operations such as painting, to become

a completed vehicle.

(f) Line means a name that a

manufacturer applies to a family of

vehicles within a make which have a

degree of commonality in construction,

such as body, chassis or cab type.

(g) Make means a name that a

manufacturer applies to a group of

vehicles or engines.

(h) Manufacturer means a person—

(1) Manufacturing or assembling

motor vehicles or motor vehicle

equipment; or

(2) Importing motor vehicles or motor

vehicle equipment for resale.

(i) Model means a name that a

manufacturer applies to a family of

vehicles of the same type, make, line,

series and body type.

(j) Model Year means the year used to

designate a discrete vehicle model,

irrespective of the calendar year in

which the vehicle was actually

produced, so long as the actual period

is less than two calendar years.

(k) Plant of manufacture means the

plant where the manufacturer affixes the

VIN.

(l) Series means a name that a

manufacturer applies to a subdivision of

a ‘‘line’’ denoting price, size or weight

identification and that is used by the

manufacturer for marketing purposes.

(m) Trailer kit means a trailer that is

fabricated and delivered in complete but

unassembled form and that is designed

to be assembled without special

machinery or tools.

(n) Type means a class of vehicle

distinguished by common traits,

including design and purpose.

Passenger cars, multipurpose passenger

vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers,

incomplete vehicles and motorcycles

are separate types.

(o) VIN means a series of Arabic

numbers and Roman letters that is

assigned to a motor vehicle for

identification purposes.

§ 565.4 General requirements.

(a) Each vehicle manufactured in one

stage shall have a VIN that is assigned

by the manufacturer. Each vehicle

manufactured in more than one stage

shall have a VIN assigned by the

incomplete vehicle manufacturer.

Vehicle alterers, as specified in 49 CFR

567.7, shall utilize the VIN assigned by

the original manufacturer of the vehicle.

(b) Each VIN shall consist of

seventeen (17) characters.

(c) A check digit shall be part of each

VIN. The check digit shall appear in

position nine (9) of the VIN, on the

vehicle and on any transfer documents

containing the VIN prepared by the

manufacturer to be given to the first

owner for purposes other than resale.

(d) The VINs of any two vehicles

manufactured within a 30-year period

shall not be identical.

(e) The VIN of each vehicle shall

appear clearly and indelibly upon either

a part of the vehicle, other than the

glazing, that is not designed to be

removed except for repair or upon a

separate plate or label that is

permanently affixed to such a part.

(f) The VIN for passenger cars,

multipurpose passenger vehicles and

trucks of 4536 kg or less GVWR shall be

located inside the passenger

compartment. It shall be readable,

without moving any part of the vehicle,

through the vehicle glazing under

daylight lighting conditions by an

observer having 20/20 vision (Snellen)

whose eye-point is located outside the

vehicle adjacent to the left windshield

pillar. Each character in the VIN subject

to this paragraph shall have a minimum

height of 4 mm.

(g) Each character in each VIN shall

be one of the letters in the set:

[ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRSTUVWXYZ] or

a numeral in the set: [0123456789]

assigned according to the method given

in § 565.5.

(h) All spaces provided for in the VIN

must be occupied by a character

specified in paragraph (g) of this

section.

(i) The type face utilized for each VIN

shall consist of capital, sanserif

characters.

§ 565.5 Motor vehicles imported into the

United States.

(a) Importers shall utilize the VIN

assigned by the original manufacturer of

the motor vehicle.

(b) A passenger car certified by a

Registered Importer under 49 CFR part

592 shall have a plate or label that

contains the following statement, in

characters with a minimum height of 4

mm, with the identification number

assigned by the original manufacturer

provided in the blank: SUBSTITUTE

FOR U.S. VIN: llllll SEE PART

565. The plate or label shall conform to

§ 565.4 (h) and (i). The plate or label

shall be permanently affixed inside the

passenger compartment. The plate or

label shall be readable, without moving

any part of the vehicle, through the

vehicle glazing under daylight lighting

conditions by an observer having 20/20

vision (Snellen) whose eye-point is

located outside the vehicle adjacent to

the left windshield pillar. It shall be

located in such a manner as not to

cover, obscure, or overlay any part of

any identification number affixed by the

original manufacturer. Passenger cars

conforming to Canadian Motor Vehicle

Safety Standard 115 are exempt from

this paragraph.

§ 565.6 Content requirements.

The VIN shall consist of four sections

of characters which shall be grouped

accordingly:

(a) The first section shall consist of

three characters that occupy positions

one through three (1–3) in the VIN. This

section shall uniquely identify the

manufacturer, make and type of the

motor vehicle if its manufacturer

produces 500 or more motor vehicles of

its type annually. If the manufacturer

produces less than 500 motor vehicles

of its type annually, these characters

along with the third, fourth and fifth

characters of the fourth section shall

uniquely identify the manufacturer,

make and type of the motor vehicle.

These characters are assigned in

accordance with § 565.7(a).

(b) The second section shall consist of

five characters, which occupy positions

four through eight (4–8) in the VIN. This

section shall uniquely identify the

attributes of the vehicle as specified in

Table I. For passenger cars, and for

multipurpose passenger vehicles and

trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating

of 4536 kg. (10,000 lbs.) or less, the first

and second characters shall be

alphabetic and the third and fourth

characters shall be numeric. The fifth

character may be either alphabetic or

numeric. The characters utilized and

their placement within the section may

be determined by the manufacturer, but

the specified attributes must be

decipherable with information supplied

by the manufacturer in accordance with

§ 565.7(c). In submitting the required

information to NHTSA relating to gross

vehicle weight rating, the designations

in Table II shall be used. The use of

these designations within the VIN itself

is not required. Tables I and II follow:

Table I—Type of Vehicle and

Information Decipherable

Passenger car: Line, series, body type,

engine type and restraint system

type.

Multipurpose passenger vehicle: Line,

series, body type, engine type, gross

vehicle weight rating.

Truck: Model or line, series, chassis, cab

type, engine type, brake system and

gross vehicle weight rating.
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 111 / Friday, June 7, 1996 / Rules and Regulations 29035

Bus: Model or line, series, body type,

engine type, and brake system

Trailer, including trailer kits and

incomplete trailer: Type of trailer,

body type, length and axle

configuration.

Motorcycle: Type of motorcycle, line,

engine type, and net brake

horsepower.

Incomplete Vehicle other than a trailer:

Model or line, series, cab type,

engine type and brake system.

Note to Table I: Engine net brake

horsepower when encoded in the VIN

shall differ by no more than 10 percent

from the actual net brake horsepower;

shall in the case of motorcycle with an

actual net brake horsepower of 2 or less,

be not more than 2; and shall be greater

than 2 in the case of a motorcycle with

an actual brake horsepower greater than

2.

Table II—Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

Classes

Class A—Not greater than 1360 kg.

(3,000 lbs.)

Class B—Greater than 1360 kg. to

1814 kg. (3,001–4,000 lbs.)

Class C—Greater than 1814 kg. to

2268 kg. (4,001–5,000 lbs.)

Class D—Greater than 2268 kg. to

2722 kg. (5,001–6,000 lbs.)

Class E—Greater than 2722 kg. to

3175 kg. (6,001–7,000 lbs.)

Class F—Greater than 3175 kg. to

3629 kg. (7,001–8,000 lbs.)

Class G—Greater than 3629 kg. to

4082 kg. (8,001–9,000 lbs.)

Class H—Greater than 4082 kg. to

4536 kg. (9,001–10,000 lbs.)

Class 3—Greater than 4536 kg. to 6350

kg. (10,001–14,000 lbs.)

Class 4—Greater than 6350 kg. to 7257

kg. (14,001–16,000 lbs.)

Class 5—Greater than 7257 kg. to 8845

kg. (16,001–19,500 lbs.)

Class 6—Greater than 8845 kg. to

11793 kg. (19,501–26,000 lbs.)

Class 7—Greater than 11793 kg. to

14968 kg.(26,001–33,000 lbs.)

Class 8—Greater than 14968 kg.

(33,001 lbs. and over)

(c) The third section shall consist of

one character, which occupies position

nine (9) in the VIN. This section shall

be the check digit whose purpose is to

provide a means for verifying the

accuracy of any VIN transcription. After

all other characters in VIN have been

determined by the manufacturer, the

check digit shall be calculated by

carrying out the mathematical

computation specified in paragraphs (c)

(1) through (4) of this section.

(1) Assign to each number in the VIN

its actual mathematical value and assign

to each letter the value specified for it

in Table III, as follows:

Table III—Assigned Values

A = 1

B = 2

C = 3

D = 4

E = 5

F = 6

G = 7

H = 8

J = 1

K = 2

L = 3

M = 4

N = 5

P = 7

R = 9

S = 2

T = 3

U = 4

V = 5

W = 6

X = 7

Y = 8

Z = 9

(2) Multiply the assigned value for

each character in the VIN by the

position weight factor specified in Table

IV, as follows:

Table IV—VIN Position and Weight

Factor

1st ................8

2d .................7

3d..................6

4th ................5

5th ................4

6th ................3

7th ................2

8th................10

9th.......(check digit)

10th .................. 9

11th....................8

12th....................7

13th....................6

14th....................5

15th....................4

16th....................3

17th....................2

(3) Add the resulting products and

divide the total by 11.

(4) The numerical remainder is the

check digit. If the remainder is 10 the

letter ‘‘X’’ shall be used to designate the

check digit. The correct numeric

remainder, zero through nine (0–9) or

the letter ‘‘X,’’ shall appear in VIN

position nine (9).

(5) A sample check digit calculation is

shown in Table V as follows:

TABLE V.—CALCULATION OF A CHECK DIGIT

VIN Position ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Sample VIN .................................................................................................................................................................. 1 G 4 A H 5 9 H ... 5 G 1 1 8 3 4 1

Assigned Value ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 7 4 1 8 5 9 8 ... 5 7 1 1 8 3 4 1

Weight Factor .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Multiply Assigned value times weight factor ............................................................................................................... 8 49 24 5 32 15 18 80 0 45 56 7 6 40 12 12 2

Add products: 8+49+24+5+32+15+18+80+0+45+56+7+6+40+12+12+2 = 411

Divide by 11: 411/11 = 37 4/11

The remainder is 4; this is the check digit to be inserted in position nine (9) of the VIN

(d) The fourth section shall consist of

eight characters, which occupy

positions ten through seventeen (10–17)

of the VIN. The last five (5) characters

of this section shall be numeric for

passenger cars and for multipurpose

passenger vehicles and trucks with a

gross vehicle weight rating of 4536 kg.

(10,000 lbs.) or less, and the last four (4)

characters shall be numeric for all other

vehicles.

(1) The first character of the fourth

section shall represent the vehicle

model year. The year shall be

designated as indicated in Table VI as

follows:

TABLE VI.—YEAR CODES FOR VIN

Year Code

1980 .......................................... A

1981 .......................................... B

1982 .......................................... C

1983 .......................................... D

1984 .......................................... E

1985 .......................................... F

1986 .......................................... G

1987 .......................................... H

1988 .......................................... J

1989 .......................................... K

1990 .......................................... L

1991 .......................................... M

1992 .......................................... N

TABLE VI.—YEAR CODES FOR VIN—

Continued

Year Code

1993 .......................................... P

1994 .......................................... R

1995 .......................................... S

1996 .......................................... T

1997 .......................................... V

1998 .......................................... W

1999 .......................................... X

2000 .......................................... Y

2001 .......................................... 1

2002 .......................................... 2

2003 .......................................... 3

2004 .......................................... 4
29036 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 111 / Friday, June 7, 1996 / Rules and Regulations

TABLE VI.—YEAR CODES FOR VIN—

Continued

Year Code

2005 .......................................... 5

2006 .......................................... 6

2007 .......................................... 7

2008 .......................................... 8

2009 .......................................... 9

2010 .......................................... A

2011 .......................................... B

2012 .......................................... C

2013 .......................................... D

(2) The second character of the fourth

section shall represent the plant of

manufacture.

(3) The third through the eighth

characters of the fourth section shall

represent the number sequentially

assigned by the manufacturer in the

production process if the manufacturer

produces 500 or more vehicles of its

type annually. If the manufacturer

produces less than 500 motor vehicles

of its type annually, the third, fourth

and fifth characters of the fourth

section, combined with the three

characters of the first section, shall

uniquely identify the manufacturer,

make and type of the motor vehicle and

the sixth, seventh, and eighth characters

of the fourth section shall represent the

number sequentially assigned by the

manufacturer in the production process.

§ 565.7 Reporting requirements.

The information collection

requirements contained in this part have

been approved by the Office of

Management and Budget under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction

Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and have

been assigned OMB Control Number

2127–0510.

(a) The National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA) has

contracted with the Society of

Automotive Engineers (SAE) to

coordinate the assignment of

manufacturer identifiers. Manufacturer

identifiers will be supplied by SAE at

no charge. All requests for assignments

of manufacturer identifiers should be

forwarded directly to: Society of

Automotive Engineers, 400

Commonwealth Avenue, Warrendale,

Pennsylvania 15096, Attention: WMI

Coordinator. Any requests for identifiers

submitted to NHTSA will be forwarded

to SAE. Manufacturers may request a

specific identifier or may request only

assignment of an identifier(s). SAE will

review requests for specific identifiers

to determine that they do not conflict

with an identifier already assigned or

block of identifiers already reserved.

SAE will confirm the assignments in

writing to the requester. Once confirmed

by SAE, the identifier need not be

resubmitted to NHTSA.

(b) Manufacturers of vehicles subject

to this part shall submit, either directly

or through an agent, the unique

identifier for each make and type of

vehicle it manufactures at least 60 days

before affixing the first VIN using the

identifier. Manufacturers whose unique

identifier appears in the fourth section

of the VIN shall also submit the three

characters of the first section that

constitutes a part of their identifier.

(c) Manufacturers of vehicles subject

to the requirements of this part shall

submit to NHTSA the information

necessary to decipher the characters

contained in its VINs. Amendments to

this information shall be submitted to

the agency for VINs containing an

amended coding. The agency will not

routinely provide written approvals of

these submissions, but will contact the

manufacturer should any corrections to

these submissions be necessary.

(d) The information required under

paragraph (c) of this section shall be

submitted at least 60 days prior to

offering for sale the first vehicle

identified by a VIN containing that

information, or if information

concerning vehicle characteristics

sufficient to specify the VIN code is

unavailable to the manufacturer by that

date, then within one week after that

information first becomes available. The

information shall be addressed to:

Administrator, National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration, 400

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC

20590, Attention: VIN Coordinator.

PART 567—[AMENDED]

4. The authority citation for part 567

is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115,

30117, 30166, 32502, 32504, 33101–33014,

and 33109; delegation of authority at 49 CFR

1.50.

5. In § 567.4, paragraphs (k)

introductory text and (l) are revised to

read as follows:

§ 567.4 Requirements for manufacturers of

motor vehicles.

* * * * *

(k) In the case of passenger cars

admitted to the United States under 49

CFR part 592 to which the label

required by this section has not been

affixed by the original producer or

assembler of the passenger car, a label

meeting the requirements of this

paragraph shall be affixed by the

importer before the vehicle is imported

into the United States, if the car is from

a line listed in Appendix A of 49 CFR

Part 541. This label shall be in addition

to, and not in place of, the label

required by paragraphs (a) through (j),

inclusive, of this section.

* * * * *

(l)(1) In the case of a passenger car

imported into the United States under

49 CFR 591.5(f) which does not have an

identification number that complies

with 49 CFR 565.4 (b), (c), and (g) at the

time of importation, the Registered

Importer shall permanently affix a label

to the vehicle in such a manner that,

unless the label is riveted, it cannot be

removed without being destroyed or

defaced. The label shall be in addition

to the label required by paragraph (a) of

this section, and shall be affixed to the

vehicle in a location specified in

paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) The label shall contain the

following statement, in the English

language, lettered in block capitals and

numerals not less than 4 mm high, with

the location on the vehicle of the

original manufacturer’s identification

number provided in the blank:

ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER’S

IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

SUBSTITUTING FOR U.S. VIN IS

LOCATED llllll.

PART 571—[AMENDED]

6. The authority citation for part 571

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115,

30117, and 30166; delegation of authority at

49 CFR 1.50.

§ 571.115 [Removed and Reserved]

7. Section 571.115 is removed, and

reserved.

Issued on: May 31, 1996.

Ricardo Martinez,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 96–14241 Filed 6–6–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

Surface Transportation Board

49 CFR Part 1039

[STB Ex Parte No. 550]

Removal of Obsolete Regulations

Concerning Railroad Contracts

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation

Board (the Board) is removing from the

Code of Federal Regulations obsolete

regulations exempting non-agricultural

railroad transportation contracts from

the contract filing requirement that

previously applied to railroad contracts.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1996.