Decision That Nonconforming 1992 BMW 7 Series Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation |
---|
Topics: BMW 7 Series
|
Marilynne Jacobs
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
January 12, 1998
[Federal Register: January 12, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 7)] [Notices] [Page 1881-1882] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr12ja98-106] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA-97-3056] Decision That Nonconforming 1992 BMW 7 Series Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1992 BMW 7 Series passenger cars are eligible for importation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the decision by NHTSA that 1992 BMW 7 Series passenger cars 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 sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S. certified version of the 1992 BMW 7 Series), and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards. DATES: This decision is effective January 12, 1998. [[Page 1882]] 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. J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer 90-006) petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1992 BMW 7 Series passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. NHTSA published notice of the petition on November 10, 1997 (62 FR 60556) to afford an opportunity for public comment. The reader is referred to that notice for a thorough description of the petition. One comment was received in response to the notice of the petition, from BMW of North America, Inc. (``BMW''), the United States representative of Bayerische Motoren Werke, A.G., the vehicle's manufacturer. In this comment, BMW stated that the petition erroneously claimed that non-U.S. certified 1992 BMW 7 Series passenger cars are equipped in both front seating positions with an automatic belt system identical to that found on the vehicles' U.S. certified counterparts. BMW stated that the company never certified the U.S. version of the 1992 BMW 7 Series to FMVSS No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection, through the use of automatic seat belts, and that it installed frontal air bag systems in those vehicles instead. BMW contended that air bags would have to be installed in a non-U.S. certified 1992 BMW 7 Series for that vehicle to comply with FMVSS No. 208. According to BMW, it would be ``extremely difficult, if not impossible,'' for an air bag system to be properly installed. NHTSA accorded J.K. an opportunity to respond to BMW's comment. In its response, J.K. acknowledged that the petition was in error to the extent that it described non-U.S. certified 1992 BMW 7 Series passenger cars as being equipped with automatic seat belts. J.K. agreed with BMW's assertion that these vehicles are equipped with air bag systems at both front outboard seating positions. Because the air bags in 1992 BMW 7 Series passenger cars manufactured for the European market are smaller than those furnished on the U.S. certified version of that vehicle, J.K. stated that it would be necessary to replace the air bags in European market vehicles with U.S. model components. J.K. did not address the difficulty of making such a replacement, although it indicated that if there were no existing air bag system in these vehicles, it would be possible to install one by changing the steering column and adding the necessary wiring and sensors to existing mounts. NHTSA believes that J.K.'s response adequately addresses the issue that BMW has raised regarding its petition. NHTSA further notes that in recent years, air bag systems have been replaced with relative ease on BMWs and other similar vehicles, and that the need for this alteration would not preclude the non-U.S. certified 1992 BMW 7 Series from being found eligible for importation. NHTSA has accordingly decided to grant the petition. 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. VSP-232 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles admissible under this notice of final decision. Final Decision Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides that a 1992 BMW 7 Series passenger car is substantially similar to a 1992 BMW 7 Series passenger car originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115, 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 7, 1998. Marilynne Jacobs, Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance. [FR Doc. 98-690 Filed 1-9-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-59-P