Determination That Nonconforming 1988 Saab 9000 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

Topics:  Saab 9000

William A. Boehly
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Federal Register
March 11, 1994

[Federal Register: March 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 93-91; Notice 2]

 
Determination That Nonconforming 1988 Saab 9000 Passenger Cars 
Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of determination by NHTSA that nonconforming 1988 Saab 
9000 passenger cars are eligible for importation.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the determination by NHTSA that 1988 
Saab 9000 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 a vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and 
sale in the United States and certified by its manufacturer as 
complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 
1988 Saab 9000), and they are capable of being readily modified to 
conform to the standards.

DATES: The determination is effective as of March 11, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under section 108(c) (3) (A) (i) of the National Traffic and Motor 
Vehicle Safety Act (the Act), 15 U.S.C. 1397 (c)(3)( A) (i), a motor 
vehicle that was not originally manufactured to conform to all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards must be refused 
admission into the United States on and after January 31, 1990, unless 
NHTSA has determined that a motor vehicle is substantially similar to a 
motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into and sale in 
the United States, certified under section 114 of the Act, and of the 
same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, and 
is capable of being readily modified to conform to all applicable 
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Petitions for eligibility determinations 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 determines, 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 determination 
in the Federal Register.
    J.K. Motors, Inc. of Kingsville, Maryland (Registered Importer No. 
R-90-006) petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1988 Saab 9000 
passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United States. 
NHTSA published notice of the petition on December 30, 1993 (58 FR 
69445) to afford an opportunity for public comment. The reader is 
referred to that notice for a thorough description of the petition. No 
comments were received in response to the notice. Based on its review 
of the information submitted by the petitioner, NHTSA has determined to 
grant the petition.

Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles

    The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final determination 
must indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate 
vehicle eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for 
entry. VSP #59 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to vehicles 
admissible under this determination.

Final Determination

    Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby determines 
that a 1988 Saab 9000 not originally manufactured to comply with all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is substantially 
similar to a 1988 Saab 9000 originally manufactured for importation 
into and sale in the United States and certified under section 114 of 
the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, and is capable of 
being readily modified to conform to all applicable Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1397(c) (3) (A) (i) (I) and (C) (ii); 49 
CFR 593.8; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: February 23, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-5772 Filed 3-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M