Evolution VIII Import Petition Comment Period Extended
Aug 6, 2003, 07:10 AM
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Evolution VIII Import Petition Comment Period Extended
A notice was published today in the Federal Register concerning the petition now before the NHTSA to import non-US-spec 2003 Evolution VIII LHD cars into the US. The notice announced an extension of the comment period to accomodate a request from Mitsubishi for an extra week to prepare its response. The new comment period closing date is TODAY. The complete notice may be viewed at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...d=fr06au03-132 and the synopsis is:
It appears that MMSA is not willing to just let this petition "slide" but instead wants it killed.
Previous discussions of this petition within this forum may be found at:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...threadid=28674 (petiton announcement)
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...threadid=16157 (petition preparation)
This reopening is based on a request dated July 29, 2003, from Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. ("Mitsubishi''), the U.S. representative of the vehicle's manufacturer. Mitsubishi stated that the reopening was needed because it had yet to complete a technical analysis of the petition that it is conducting in Japan. Mitsubishi explained that its analysis has taken "longer than initially expected because there are a number of significant engineering issues raised by the petition's discussion of the steps required for modifying the nonconforming Mitsubishi Evolution VIII passenger cars to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.'' The company stated that "these engineering issues require careful analysis and comparison between conforming and nonconforming models.'' The company also noted that it has recently retained outside counsel to assist in preparing its comments, and that "additional time has been needed both to familiarize counsel with the issues, to address issues raised by counsel, and to narrow the issues under review.'' Mitsubishi requested that the comment period be reopened and allowed to run for a period of one week from the original closing date.
Previous discussions of this petition within this forum may be found at:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...threadid=28674 (petiton announcement)
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...threadid=16157 (petition preparation)
Aug 6, 2003, 07:48 AM
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I'm under the impression that it HAS to be LHD to be approved. And My opinion is that they are going for Evo VIII (non US) approval first. So they could link back to the approval to show similarity which would allow legalization of the Evo VII's.
Just my opinion though.
SC~
Just my opinion though.
SC~
Aug 6, 2003, 07:51 AM
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There are two RHD cars on the approval list (and they were crashed). The Skyline GT-S and the Skyline GT-R.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...IG0521-03.html
And keep in mind that Motorex crashed them to get them approved (on top of conforming them in other ways).
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...IG0521-03.html
And keep in mind that Motorex crashed them to get them approved (on top of conforming them in other ways).
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Aug 6, 2003, 08:00 AM
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Yeah, but I don't know enough about their structural design to assume that they would perform the same as far as crash tests go. 
I'm just curious as to MMC's motives.
I'm just curious as to MMC's motives.
Aug 6, 2003, 08:06 AM
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Well, they would obviously like to keep the business of selling Evo's in the US in their court. You really can't blame them for doing this I guess.
Senor Info.....Have any manufacturers successfully barred the eligibility of a nonconforming car by writing and submitting an effective dossier to NHTSA?
SC~
Senor Info.....Have any manufacturers successfully barred the eligibility of a nonconforming car by writing and submitting an effective dossier to NHTSA?
SC~
Aug 6, 2003, 08:13 AM
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Originally posted by HobieKopek
I'm just curious as to MMC's motives.
I'm just curious as to MMC's motives.
It will be interesting to read the comments from MMC/MMSA when they become available in the public docket since they are likely to shed some additional light on technical/structural differences between the US-market Evo VIII and the Evo VIII sold in other markets.
Aug 6, 2003, 08:27 AM
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Originally posted by Seņor Info
Obviously, MMC is motivated only by its sincere desire to protect the American public from unsafe grey market conversions.
Obviously, MMC is motivated only by its sincere desire to protect the American public from unsafe grey market conversions.
Yeah, SC, I thought about NA sales, but I can't see this hurting their numbers in any sort of significant way.
I'm wondering if the 6 speed tranny recall is a factor at all.
Aug 6, 2003, 09:25 AM
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It's probably the precedent that would be set if the cars were legitimized.....which could affect future sales on Evo's and other cars. I don't think that would be insignificant. But it's also hard to guess.
Senor info. Your post make it sound like all grey market cars are unsafe. When in reality, if the NHTSA says it's ok to have specific cars in the US, they are saying that these cars are no less safe than their US Equivalents....and after these cars pass Federal muster, they are still by definition grey market cars, right? ...Well, that on top of the fact that there are very few grey market cars here in the US, so it's hard to factually base an opinion on whether they are safe in operation in the US as compared to their US market equivalents.
or are you just parroting what you think MMC is saying in their defense?
SC~
Senor info. Your post make it sound like all grey market cars are unsafe. When in reality, if the NHTSA says it's ok to have specific cars in the US, they are saying that these cars are no less safe than their US Equivalents....and after these cars pass Federal muster, they are still by definition grey market cars, right? ...Well, that on top of the fact that there are very few grey market cars here in the US, so it's hard to factually base an opinion on whether they are safe in operation in the US as compared to their US market equivalents.
or are you just parroting what you think MMC is saying in their defense?
SC~
Aug 6, 2003, 10:17 AM
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Originally posted by Secret Chimp
Senor info. Your post make it sound like all grey market cars are unsafe. When in reality, if the NHTSA says it's ok to have specific cars in the US, they are saying that these cars are no less safe than their US Equivalents....and after these cars pass Federal muster, they are still by definition grey market cars, right? ...Well, that on top of the fact that there are very few grey market cars here in the US, so it's hard to factually base an opinion on whether they are safe in operation in the US as compared to their US market equivalents.
Senor info. Your post make it sound like all grey market cars are unsafe. When in reality, if the NHTSA says it's ok to have specific cars in the US, they are saying that these cars are no less safe than their US Equivalents....and after these cars pass Federal muster, they are still by definition grey market cars, right? ...Well, that on top of the fact that there are very few grey market cars here in the US, so it's hard to factually base an opinion on whether they are safe in operation in the US as compared to their US market equivalents.
BTW, there are probably more grey market imports every year than you might guess. According to an article reprinted from the Washington Post, there were 173,841 such imports in 2000 and 199,431 in 2001.