Document ID: NHTSA-2013-0031-0001
Agency: nhtsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Petitions for Decision that Nonconforming Vehicles are Eligible for Importation: 1991 Volkswagen Transporter
Posted Date: 2013-04-17T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22944-22946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08957]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2013-0031, Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1991 Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Vehicles Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of 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 
nonconforming 1991 Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Passenger 
Vehicles 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 (1991 Volkswagen Vanagon Multi-
Purpose Passenger Vehicles) and they are capable of being readily 
altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 17, 2013.

[[Page 22945]]

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above 
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251
    Instructions: 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 your comments were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
    How To Read Comments submitted to the Docket: You may read the 
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given 
above. You may also view the documents from the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets. The docket ID number and title of this notice are shown at the 
heading of this document notice. Please note that even after the 
comment closing date, we will continue to file relevant information in 
the Docket as it becomes available. Further, some people may submit 
late comments. Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically search 
the Docket for new material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not 
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS 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, 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, 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.
    Autostadt West of West Sacramento, California (Registered Importer 
06-346) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming European 
Market 1991 Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles are 
eligible for importation into the United States. The vehicles which 
Autostadt West believes are substantially similar are 1991 Volkswagen 
Vanagon Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles that were manufactured for 
import into, and sale in the United States and certified by their 
manufacturer as conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner claims that it compared non-U.S. certified 1991 
Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles to their U.S.-
certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to be substantially 
similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    Autostadt West submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified 1991 Volkswagen Transporter Multi-
Purpose Passenger Vehicles, as originally manufactured, conform to many 
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 non-U.S. certified 1991 
Volkswagen Transporter Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles are identical 
to their U.S. certified counterparts with respect to compliance with 
Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, 
and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting and 
Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 
Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107 Reflecting 
Surfaces, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 119 New Pneumatic Tires for 
Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 
201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202 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, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheels Disks, and Hub Caps, 212 
Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush 
Resistance, 301 Fuel System Integrity, and 302 Flammability of Interior 
Materials.
    The petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: replacement of the brake 
failure lamp lens, installation of a seat belt warning lamp, and 
recalibration of the speedometer/odometer to show speed in miles per 
hour and distance in miles.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: replacement of the headlamps, side marker reflectors, turn 
signals, and stop lamps with U.S.-model components.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: replacement of the passenger 
side rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component or inscription of the 
required warning statement on the face of that mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention: 
installation of a U.S.-model micro switch in the steering lock assembly 
and a warning buzzer.
    Standard No. 120 Tire Selection for Vehicles Other Than Passenger 
Vehicles: installation of an information placard containing 
manufacturer specifications for seating capacity and loading, and tire 
specifications.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) Installation of a 
U.S.-model push button seat belt buckle with a warning contact switch; 
(b) installation of a seat belt warning light in the instrument cluster 
and associated wiring.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: installation of a U.S.-model 
push button seat belt buckle with a warning contact switch.

[[Page 22946]]

    The petitioner states that the VIN plate must also be installed on 
the left front corner of the dashboard to meet the requirements of 49 
CFR part 565.
    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 addresses 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), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49 
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

    Issued on: April 11, 2013.
Claude H. Harris,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2013-08957 Filed 4-16-13; 8:45 am]
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