Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming Model Year 2012 Fisker Karma Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

Topics:  Fisker Karma

Jeffrey M. Giuseppe
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
December 10, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76741-76742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31059]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. NHTSA-2015-0107; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
Model Year 2012 Fisker Karma Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Receipt of petition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
model year (MY) 2012 Fisker Karma 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 2012 Fisker Karma PC) and 
they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is January 11, 
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, 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

[[Page 76742]]

publishes this decision in the Federal Register.
    Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories (WETL), Inc. of Houston, 
Texas (Registered Importer R-90-005) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
whether nonconforming 2012 Fisker Karma PC's are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicles which WETL believes 
are substantially similar are MY 2012 Fisker Karma PC's 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 2012 
Fisker Karma PC's to their U.S.-certified counterparts, and found the 
vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance with 
most FMVSS.
    WETL submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that non-U.S. certified MY 2012 Fisker Karma PC's, 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 2012 Fisker Karma 
PC's, 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, 105 Hydraulic and Electric Brake 
Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 113 Hood Latch System, 114 Theft Protection, 
116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, 
and Roof panel System, 124 Accelerator Control Systems, 126 Electronic 
Stability Control Systems, 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring 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, 210 Seat Belt 
Assembly Anchorages, 212 Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact 
Protection, 216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 
225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 302 
Flammability of Interior Materials, and 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 
speedometer with U.S. model components and addition of the brake 
warning indicator to fully comply with the standard.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Replacement of the rear side markers with U.S.-conforming 
components.
    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.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Replacement of the 
passenger seatbelt assembly, passenger front airbag module, left knee 
bolster, right knee bolster, and the instrument cluster with U.S. model 
components.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Replacement of the passenger 
seat belt assembly with U.S. model components.
    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.

    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. 2015-31059 Filed 12-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P