Re: Importing non-us models, reply from congress woman

[James Montebello <jamesm@domain.elided>]

Um, this doesn't appear to be a misinformed response.  It appears to
be the current law, as I understand it.  Non-US models can be imported,
provided they are brought into compliance with certain US regulations.
For small volumes, it's possible to get a waiver for *some* of the DOT
requirements (crash tests, etc).  It's not possible to get a waiver
for EPA requirements, however, so emissions have to be taken care of.
As an example of this, there is (was?) a firm in SoCal working to
convert the Lotus Elise to use the 180hp Integra engine.  This would
allow it to pass the EPA regs (Integra engine is already certified),
and because they were only planning on doing 150-200 cars, they could
get permission to ignore the crash regs.

Bringing a non-US model completely into compliance with US regs would,
in many cases, triple the cost of the car.  I have no idea what AutoDelta
is doing, although it's possible they're registered as a small-volume
manufacturer, which falls under yet another set of regulations.

james montebello

On Thu, 10 Oct 2002, Kelly McCrystle wrote:

> Here is a reply that I recently received from my local
> congress woman regarding my request to change import
> rules to allow individuals to import non-us models.
> Seems to be a typical misinformed response.
>
> I saw we start a $10.00 fund from each digestable to
> purchase a newer spider and see what would be required
> to bring those cars in.  Obviously AutoDelta has done
> some of the leg work, so we may be able to
> piggyback....just a thought.
>
> Kelly M.
>
> > October 10, 2002
> >
> > Thank you for contacting me about the importation of
> > European cars.
> >
> > The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)
> > establish minimum levels of safety performance for
> motor vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety
> Administration (NHTSA) monitors the importation of
> foreign vehicles not certified to comply with the
> FMVSS to ensure that they are brought into compliance.
> Imported cars are also subject to safety standards
> under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1996, revised
> under the
> > Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, to
> > bumper standards under the Motor Vehicle Information
> and Cost Savings Act of 1972, and to air pollution
> control standards under the Clean Air Act.
> >
> > Individuals can still import vehicles that have not
> > been approved if they contract a Registered Importer
> (RI).  RIs were created under the Imported Vehicle
> Safety Compliance Act in order to help bring
> nonconforming cars into compliance, but in order for
> an RI to succeed in importation they  must first
> petition the FMVSS on the basis that the car in
> question is capable of being modified to comply with
> all standards.  The petitions are reviewed and then
> the FMVSS decides if the car is eligible for
> importation.  The RI has 120 days to bring the car
> into conformity and submit a vehicle compliance
> package.  Finally, the RI must hold the car for 30
> days until final approval before it is released for
> titling or use on the highway.
> >
> > Most vehicles manufactured abroad that conform with
> > U.S. safety, bumper, and emission standards are
> exported for sale in the U.S. Although a
> > nonconforming car may be conditionally admitted, the
> > modifications required to bring it into compliance
> may be so extensive and costly that  it may be
> impracticable and even impossible to achieve such
> compliance.
> >
> >
> >  Sincerely,
> >
> > Anna G. Eshoo
> > Member of Congress
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