Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming 1994 Saab 9000 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-99-6525]

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision that Nonconforming

1994 Saab 9000 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming

1994 Saab 9000 passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway

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

a 1994 Saab 9000 passenger car 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 January 10,

2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice

number, and be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400

Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9 am to 5

pm].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle

[[Page 69070]]

Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

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 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, 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 of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'')

(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether a

1994 Saab 9000 passenger car is eligible for importation into the

United States. The vehicle which Champagne believes is substantially

similar is the 1994 Saab 9000 passenger car that was manufactured for

importation into, and sale in, the United States and certified by its

manufacturer as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle

safety standards.

The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.

certified 1994 Saab 9000 to its U.S.-certified counterpart, and found

the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance

with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to

demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1994 Saab 9000, as originally

manufactured, conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards

in the same manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is capable of

being readily altered to conform to those standards.

Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified

1994 Saab 9000 is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart 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, 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, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof Crush

Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability of

Interior Materials.

Additionally, the petitioner states that the vehicle conforms to

the Bumper Standard found at 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 a noncomplying symbol on the brake

failure indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp

that displays the appropriate symbol; (c) recalibration of the

speedometer/odometer to show distance in miles and speed in miles per

hour.

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated

Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies; (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 if the vehicle is not already

so equipped.

Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire

information placard.

Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the passenger side

rearview mirror with a U.S.-model component.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer

and a warning buzzer microswitch in the steering lock assembly.

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) replacement of the driver's side air bag and knee bolster

with U.S.-model components on vehicles that are not already so

equipped. The petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with

combination lap and shoulder belts that adjust by means of an automatic

retractor and release by means of a single push button at the front

outboard seating positions, with combination lap and shoulder

restraints that release by means of a single push button at the rear

outboard seating positions, and with a lap belt in the rear center

designated seating position.

Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of

reinforcing door beams.

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

valve in the fuel tank vent line.

The petitioner also states that all vehicles will be inspected

prior to importation to ensure that they are equipped with anti-theft

devices in compliance with the Theft Prevention Standard found in 49

CFR Part 541 and modified if necessary.

The petitioner also states that a vehicle identification plate must

be affixed to the vehicle to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition

described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be

submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW,

Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9 am to 5 pm]. 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: December 6, 1999.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 99-31972 Filed 12-8-99; 8:45 am]

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