Determination That Nonconforming 1988 Saab 9000 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No. 93-91; Notice 2]

Determination That Nonconforming 1988 Saab 9000 Passenger Cars

Are Eligible for Importation

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

ACTION: Notice of determination by NHTSA that nonconforming 1988 Saab

9000 passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the determination by NHTSA that 1988

Saab 9000 passenger cars not originally manufactured to comply with all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for

importation into the United States because they are substantially

similar to a vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and

sale in the United States and certified by its manufacturer as

complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the

1988 Saab 9000), and they are capable of being readily modified to

conform to the standards.

DATES: The determination is effective as of March 11, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Under section 108(c) (3) (A) (i) of the National Traffic and Motor

Vehicle Safety Act (the Act), 15 U.S.C. 1397 (c)(3)( A) (i), a motor

vehicle that was not originally manufactured to conform to all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards must be refused

admission into the United States on and after January 31, 1990, unless

NHTSA has determined that a motor vehicle is substantially similar to a

motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and sale in

the United States, certified under 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 modified to conform to all applicable

Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Petitions for eligibility determinations 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 determines, 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 determination

in the Federal Register.

J.K. Motors, Inc. of Kingsville, Maryland (Registered Importer No.

R-90-006) petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1988 Saab 9000

passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States.

NHTSA published notice of the petition on December 30, 1993 (58 FR

69445) to afford an opportunity for public comment. The reader is

referred to that notice for a thorough description of the petition. No

comments were received in response to the notice. Based on its review

of the information submitted by the petitioner, NHTSA has determined to

grant the petition.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles

The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final determination

must indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate

vehicle eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for

entry. VSP #59 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles

admissible under this determination.

Final Determination

Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby determines

that a 1988 Saab 9000 not originally manufactured to comply with all

applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is substantially

similar to a 1988 Saab 9000 originally manufactured for importation

into and sale in the United States and certified under section 114 of

the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, and is capable of

being readily modified to conform to all applicable Federal motor

vehicle safety standards.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1397(c) (3) (A) (i) (I) and (C) (ii); 49

CFR 593.8; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Issued on: February 23, 1994.

William A. Boehly,

Associate Administrator for Enforcement.

[FR Doc. 94-5772 Filed 3-10-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-M