Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1994 Volvo 945 GL Wagon Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. 95-27; Notice 1]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming

1994 Volvo 945 GL Wagon Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming

1994 Volvo 945 GL Wagon passenger cars are eligible for importation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that a 1994

Volvo 945 GL Wagon 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.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is May 31, 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.

Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (Registered

Importer No. R-90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1994

Volvo 945 GL Wagon passenger cars are eligible for importation into the

United States. The vehicle which Champagne believes is substantially

similar is the 1994 Volvo 940 GL Wagon. Champagne has submitted

information indicating that the 1994 Volvo 940 GL Wagon was certified

as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards

and offered for sale in the United States.

The petitioner contends that it carefully compared the 945 GL Wagon

to the 940 GL Wagon, and found the two models to be substantially

similar with respect to compliance with most applicable Federal motor

vehicle safety standards.

Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to

demonstrate that the 1994 Volvo 945 GL Wagon, as originally

manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards

in the same manner as the 1994 Volvo 940 GL Wagon 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 Volvo 945 GL

Wagon is identical to the certified 1994 Volvo 940 GL Wagon with

respect to compliance with 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, 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, 216 Roof Crush Resistance,

219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of Interior

Materials.

Additionally, the petitioner states that the 1994 Volvo 945 GL

Wagon complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.

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) installation of a seat belt warning lamp; (c)

recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from kilometers to miles per

hour.

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated

Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies which

incorporate sealed beam headlamps; (b) installation of U.S.-model front

and rear sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) installation of U.S.-

model taillamp assemblies; (d) 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: Replacement of the passenger

side rear view mirror, which is convex, but lacks the required warning

statement.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a buzzer

microswitch in the steering lock assembly, and 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: (a) Installation of a

U.S.-model seat belt in the driver's position, or a belt webbing-

actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor; (b)

installation of an ignition switch-actuated seat belt warning lamp and

buzzer; (c) installation of a U.S.-model [[Page 21236]] driver's side

air bag and knee bolster. The petitioner states that the vehicle is

also equipped in both front seating positions with combination lap and

shoulder belts that adjust by means of an automatic retractor and

release by means of a single push button. The petitioner further states

that the vehicle is equipped at each rear outboard seating position

with a lap and shoulder belt and with a lap belt at the rear center

seating position.

Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of

reinforcing beams.

Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: Installation of a rollover

valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the

evaporative emissions collection canister.

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 25, 1995.

Marilynne E. Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 95-10575 Filed 4-28-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P