Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 2008 Aston Martin Vantage V8 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

Topics:  Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Jeffrey M. Giuseppe
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
4 May 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26867-26869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10350]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0058; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Model Year 2008 Aston Martin Vantage V8 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

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SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
model year (MY) 2008 Aston Martin Vantage V8 passenger cars (PC) that 
were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS), are eligible for importation 
into the United States because they are substantially similar to 
vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United 
States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with 
the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 2008 Aston 
Martin Vantage V8 PC) and they are capable of being readily altered to 
conform to the standards.

DATE:  The closing date for comments on the petition is June 3, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above 
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Comments must be written in the English language, and 
be no greater than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to 
the length of necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are 
submitted in hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are 
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
    How to Read Comments submitted to the Docket: You may read the 
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given 
above. You may also view the documents from the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets. The docket ID number and title of this notice are shown at the 
heading of this document notice. Please note that even after the 
comment closing date, we will continue to file relevant information in 
the Docket as it becomes available. Further,

[[Page 26868]]

some people may submit late comments. Accordingly, we recommend that 
you periodically search the Docket for new material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Stevens, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5308).

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 FMVSS 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 FMVSS.
    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.
    U.S. Specs of Harve de Grace, Maryland (Registered Importer R-03-
321) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 2008 Aston 
Martin Vantage V8 PCs are eligible for importation into the United 
States. The vehicles which U.S. Specs believes are substantially 
similar are MY 2008 Aston Martin Vantage V8 PCs sold in the United 
States and certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all 
applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner claims that it compared non-U.S. certified MY 2008 
Aston Martin Vantage V8 PCs to their U.S.-certified counterparts, and 
found the vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most FMVSS.
    U.S. Specs submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified MY 2008 Aston Martin Vantage V8 
PCs, as originally manufactured, conform to many applicable FMVSS in 
the same manner as their U.S.-certified counterparts, or are capable of 
being readily altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non U.S.-certified MY 
2008 Aston Martin Vantage V8 PCs, as originally manufactured, conform 
to: Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter 
Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 Windshield Defrosting 
and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems, 106 
Brake Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic and Certain Specialty Tires, 113 Hood 
Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 
Accelerator Control Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 201 
Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, 202a 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 Mounting, 
214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield 
Zone Intrusion, 302 Flammability of Interior Materials, 401 Interior 
Trunk Release.
    The petitioner also contends that the subject non-U.S certified 
vehicles are capable of being readily altered to meet the following 
standards, in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: replacement of the original 
instrument cluster with the U.S. model component and reprogramming the 
associated software as described in the petition, or modifying the 
existing instrument cluster such that speed is displayed in miles per 
hour (MPH) and the brake telltale displays the word ``BRAKE'' when 
activated.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: installation of U.S.-conforming front side marker lamps, 
headlamps, high mounted stop lamp, and rear and side mounted reflex 
reflectors.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of the 
required tire information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: inscription of the required 
warning statement on the face of the passenger mirror, or replacement 
of the passenger side mirror with the U.S. model component.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition and Roof Panel 
Systems: rewiring and reprograming the power-operated window, 
partition, and roof panel systems if necessary for the vehicle to fully 
conform to the standard.
    Standard No. 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: installation of 
U.S. model tire pressure sensor, tire valve kit and tire pressure 
monitor module. The system must also be reprogrammed with the U.S. 
model tire pressure loss warning software.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: installation of U.S. 
model software such that the seat belt warning lamp and audio alert 
function as required by the standard.
    In response to NHTSA's letter dated August 7, 2014, requesting 
additional information, the petitioner provided supplemental 
information in the form of an email from Aston Martin Lagonda Limited 
stating that the passenger side seat weight sensor and passenger side 
seat module (which may need to be individually identified for each 
vehicle), and fixed height cushion frame are required for the vehicle. 
In addition, Aston Martin Langonda Limited stated that two air bag 
[warning] labels will need to be installed to conform the vehicle to 
the standard.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: the seat 
cushion frame must be replaced with the U.S. part in order to meet this 
standard.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: in response to NHTSA's 
letter dated August 7, 2014, requesting additional information, the 
petitioner provided supplemental information in the form of an email 
from Aston Martin Lagonda Limited indicating that various components of 
the vapor recovery system are required.
    The petitioner also provided a copy of a letter from Aston Martin 
Lagonda Limited stating, ``Aston Martin will provide the software 
configuration file to a United States Aston Martin Dealership for U.S. 
Specs. U.S. Specs will be required to take the vehicle to the 
dealership for programming. Once the vehicle has been re-programmed and 
diagnosed that all systems are functioning properly, the dealership 
will provide U.S. Specs with documentation confirming that all vehicle 
systems are functioning as a 2008 Aston Martin Vantage V8, United 
States model.''
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicle near the left windshield pillar to 
meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
    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 addresses 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.


[[Page 26869]]


    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), and (b)(1); 49 
CFR 593.7; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95 and 501.8.

Jeffrey M. Giuseppe,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-10350 Filed 5-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P