AGENCY:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION:
Notice of decision by NHTSA that certain nonconforming motor vehicles are eligible for importation.
SUMMARY:
This document announces decisions by NHTSA that certain motor vehicles 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 vehicles originally manufactured for importation into and/or sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturers as complying with the safety standards, and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.
DATES:
These decisions are effective as of the date of their publication in the Federal Register.
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), 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.
NHTSA received petitions from registered importers to decide whether the vehicles listed in Annex A to this notice are eligible for importation into the United States. To afford an opportunity for public comment, NHTSA published notice of these petitions as specified in Annex A. The reader is referred to those notices for a thorough description of the petitions. No comments were received in response to these notices. Based on its review of the information submitted by the petitioners, NHTSA has decided to grant the petitions.
Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles
The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final decision must indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate vehicle eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for entry. Vehicle eligibility numbers assigned to vehicles admissible under this decision are specified in Annex A.
Final Decision
Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides that each motor vehicle listed in Annex A to this notice, which was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, is substantially similar to a motor vehicle manufactured for importation into and/or sale in the United States, and certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, as specified in Annex A, and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
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: January 4, 2001.
Marilynne Jacobs, Director,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety, Compliance.
Annex A
Nonconforming Motor Vehicles Decided To Be Eligible for Importation
1. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7111
Nonconforming Vehicle: 1992-1994 Mercedes-Benz SE and SEL passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicle: 1992-1994 Mercedes-Benz SE and SEL passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 26872 (May 9, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-343.
2. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7225
Nonconforming Vehicles: 1995-1998 Mercedes-Benz S Class passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 1995-1998 Mercedes-Benz S Class passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 26873 (May 9, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-342.
3. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7387
Nonconforming Vehicles: 1996-2000 Audi A4 passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 1996-2000 Audi A4 passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 38878 (June 22, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-352.
4. Docket No. NHTSA-00-7756
Nonconforming Vehicles: 1995-2000 Mazda Xedos 9 passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 1995-2000 Mazda Millenia passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 49862 (August 15, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-351.
5. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7511
Nonconforming Vehicles: 1997-2000 Porsche 911 passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 1997-2000 Porsche 911 passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 38879 (June 22, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-346.
6. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7512
Nonconforming Vehicle: 2000 BMW 5 Series passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicle: 2000 BMW 5 Series passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 38880 (June 22, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-345.
7. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7522
Nonconforming Vehicles: 2000-2001 BMW Z8 passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 2000-2001 BMW Z8 passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 48046 (August 4, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-350.
8. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7524
Nonconforming Vehicles: 1978-1987 Honda CMX250C motorcycles.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 1978-1987 Honda CMX250C motorcycles.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 39221 (June 23, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-348.
9. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7555
Nonconforming Vehicles: 1991-1995 Mercedes-Benz Series passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 1991-1995 Mercedes-Benz Series passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 44850 (July 19, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-354.
10. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7388
Nonconforming Vehicles: 1992 Chrysler Daytona passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 1992 Dodge Daytona passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 38316 (June 20, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-344.
11. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7710
Nonconforming Vehicles: 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 65 FR 48279 (August 7, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-347.
12. Docket No. NHTSA-2000-7897
Nonconforming Vehicles: 1996-1998 Ferrari F355 passenger cars.
Substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicles: 1996-1998 Ferrari F355 passenger cars.
Notice of Petition published at: 64 FR 55325 (September 13, 2000).
Vehicle Eligibility Number: VSP-355.
[FR Doc. 01-698 Filed 1-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P