Vehicle Identification Number Requirements

[[Page 54658]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 541, 565, 567, 571

[Docket No. 95-85; Notice 1]

RIN 2127-AF69

Vehicle Identification Number Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),

Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: At present, NHTSA's vehicle identification number (VIN)

requirements are established in two regulations, Federal Motor Vehicle

Safety Standard No. 115 and Part 565. In this NPRM, NHTSA proposes to

incorporate Standard No. 115 in Part 565. This proposed 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 proposes to

convert English measurements specified in part 565 to metric

measurements. No substantive changes in existing regulatory text are

proposed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 26, 1995.

ADDRESSES: All comments must refer to the docket number and notice

number of this notice and be submitted, preferably in ten copies, to:

Docket Section, Room 5109, National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Docket

hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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, 1994 directive from the President to the

heads of departments and agencies, ``Regulatory Reinvention

Initiative,'' NHTSA has undertaken a review of all its regulations and

directives. During the course of this review, the agency has taken the

opportunity not only to identify those rules or portions of rules that

might be deleted or rescinded but also to identify rules that could be

consolidated to avoid duplication or be redrafted to make them easier

to read.

To further the President's goals, the agency proposes in this

rulemaking to incorporate the text of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

Standard No. 115 (49 CFR 571.115) Vehicle identification number--basic

requirements in 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. At present, Standard No. 115

specifies general physical requirements for a VIN and its installation

and Part 565 specifies VIN content and format.

NHTSA believes that consolidation into one regulation will make it

easier for motor vehicle manufacturers to understand and to apply VIN

requirements. In particular, many small businesses that manufacture

motor vehicles (including trailers), appear to find two separate VIN

requirements (i.e., in Standard No. 115 and Part 565) confusing. NHTSA

believes that consolidating all VIN requirements into one regulation

will lessen any confusion. NHTSA does not intend any substantive

changes to its VIN requirements as a result of the proposed

consolidation.

Since the VIN requirements are referenced in other NHTSA

regulations, such as Part 541 Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention

Standard and Part 567 Certification, NHTSA proposes to make

nonsubstantive changes so the parts would meet the proposed

consolidated VIN requirements. NHTSA may, at a future date, also

propose to make changes to Part 591 Importation of Vehicles and

Equipment Subject to Federal Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention

Standards and Part 592 Registered Importers of Vehicles Not Originally

Manufactured to Conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards,

to conform these parts to the new VIN requirements.

Metrication of VIN Regulation

NHTSA also proposes to 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. In this

NPRM, NHTSA proposes to convert part 565 measurements stated in the

English system of measurement to the metric system. NHTSA began its

metrication efforts with an NPRM published March 15, 1994 (59 FR 11962)

that proposed to convert selected Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

Standards to the metric system. In the March 1994 NPRM, NHTSA stated

its intent not to use equivalent conversions when there is a specific

safety need or other reason to make an exact conversion. (To illustrate

equivalent and exact conversions, an equivalent conversion of two

inches would be 50 millimeters, while an exact conversion would be 50.8

millimeters). In the March 1994 NPRM, NHTSA identified conversions of

vehicles' gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWRs) as an example of when it

would convert measurements to exact conversions.

NHTSA proposes that in Table II of part 565, English unit

measurements of vehicles' GVWRs be converted to the metric system, to

exact conversions. Thus, a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds is

proposed to be converted to the exact conversion of 4536 kilograms

(kg.), not the equivalent conversion of 4500 kg.

As it believes that those unfamiliar with the metric system may be

burdened by the agency's stating GVWRs in metric units only, NHTSA

proposes that for an indefinite time, part 565 continue to present the

English measurement as well. NHTSA seeks public comment on this

proposal to set forth both the English and metric measurements for

GVWRs.

Proposed Effective Date

Because the proposed incorporation of Standard No. 115 into Part

565 would make vehicle identification number requirements easier to

understand and to apply, without compromising safety, and would not

make any substantive change in the requirements. NHTSA has tentatively

determined that there is good cause shown that an effective date

earlier than 180 days after issuance is in the public interest.

Accordingly, the agency proposes that, if adopted, the effective date

for the final rule be 30 days after its publication in the Federal

Register.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

1. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

This proposed rule was not reviewed under E. O. 12866 (Regulatory

Planning and Review). NHTSA has analyzed the 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 proposed rule would not impose any costs or yield any

savings. It would instead, consolidate the agency's requirements for

manufacturers to assign vehicle identification numbers (VINs) to motor

vehicles. The changes would make it easier for manufacturers to

understand

[[Page 54659]]

and apply the VIN requirements. The impacts would be so minimal that

they would not warrant preparation of a full regulatory evaluation.

2. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The agency has considered the effects of this regulatory action

under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby certify that the

proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities. As explained above, the proposed

rule would not impose any new requirements, but may have a slight

beneficial impact since the changes would 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, would not be significantly affected by the

proposed rule. Accordingly, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis

has not been prepared.

3. Paperwork Reduction Act

The information collection requirements in this proposed 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.

4. Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)

This proposed rule has been analyzed in accordance with the

principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612. The agency

has determined that the proposed rule does not have sufficient

Federalism implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism

Assessment. No State laws would be affected.

5. National Environmental Policy Act

The agency has considered the environmental implications of this

proposed rule in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act

of 1969 and determined that the proposed rule would not have any

significant impact on the quality of the human environment.

6. Executive Order 12778 (Civil Justice Reform)

This proposed rule would 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.

Procedures for Filing Comments

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the proposal.

It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.

Comments must not exceed 15 pages in length. (49 CFR 553.21).

Necessary attachments may be appended to these submissions without

regard to the 15 page limit. This limitation is intended to encourage

commenters to detail their primary arguments in a concise fashion.

If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim

of confidentiality, three copies of the complete submission, including

purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to

the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street address given above, and seven

copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been

deleted should be submitted to the Docket Section. A request for

confidentiality should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth

the information specified in the agency's confidential business

information regulation, 49 CFR Part 512.

All comments received before the close of business on the comment

closing date indicated above for the proposal will be considered and

will be available for examination in the docket at the above address

both before and after the closing date. To the extent possible,

comments filed after the closing date also will be considered. Comments

received too late for consideration in regard to the final rule will be

considered as suggestions for further rulemaking action. The agency

will continue to file relevant information as it becomes available in

the docket after the closing date, and it is recommended that

interested persons continue to examine the docket for new material.

Persons who want to be notified upon receipt of their comments in

the rules docket should enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard in

the envelope with their comments. Upon receiving the comments, the

docket supervisor will return the postcard by mail.

List of Subjects

49 CFR Part 541

Administrative practice and procedure, Labeling, Motor vehicle

safety, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

49 CFR Part 565

Imports, Labeling, Motor vehicles, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting

and recordkeeping requirements.

49 CFR Part 567

Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles.

49 CFR Part 571

Imports, Motor vehicles, Motor vehicle safety, Rubber and rubber

products, Tires.

In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA proposes to amend 49 CFR

Parts 541, 565, 567, and 571 as set forth below.

PART 541--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 541 would continue to read as

follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33101, 33102, 33103, 33105; delegation of

authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

2. In section 541.4, paragraph (b)(7) would be revised to read as

follows:

Sec. 541.4 Definitions.

* * * * *

(b) Other definitions.

* * * * *

(7) VIN means the vehicle identification number required by Part

565 of this chapter.

* * * * *

PART 565--[AMENDED]

3. Part 565 would be 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.

[[Page 54660]]

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30141, 30146,

30166, and 30168; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

Sec. 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.

Sec. 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

exempt from requirements of Sec. 565.4(b), Sec. 565.4(c),

Sec. 565.4(g), Sec. 565.4(h), Sec. 565.5 and Sec. 565.6.

Sec. 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, cargo-carrying 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. or less.

(e) Incomplete vehicle means an assemblage consisting, as a

minimum, of 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.

Sec. 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 Sec. 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.

Sec. 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: __________ SEE PART 565. The plate

or label shall conform to Sec. 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.

[[Page 54661]]

Sec. 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 paragraph (c) of this section.

(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. 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 paragraph (d) of this section. 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

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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.

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.

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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

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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 ).

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(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 J = 1 T = 3

B = 2 K = 2 U = 4

C = 3 L = 3 V = 5

D = 4 M = 4 W = 6

E = 5 N = 5 X = 7

F = 6 P = 7 Y = 8

G = 7 R = 9 Z = 9

H = 8 S = 2

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

(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.............................................................. (\1\)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

\1\(Check digit.)

(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

[[Page 54662]]

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

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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. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2004........................................... 4

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.

Sec. 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 paragraphs (b) and (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 would be revised to read as

follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30166, 32502,

32504, 33101-33014,

[[Page 54663]]

and 33109; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

5. In part 567.4, paragraphs (k) introductory text and (l) would be

revised to read as follows:

Sec. 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 __________.

PART 571--[AMENDED]

6. The authority citation for part 571 would continue to read as

follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166;

delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

Sec. 571.115 [Removed]

7. Section 571.115 would be removed.

Issued on: October 17, 1995.

Barry Felrice,

Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.

[FR Doc. 95-26499 Filed 10-24-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P