Products Liability Law Daily Wrap Up, NOTICES—IMPORT ELIGIBILITY—MOTOR VEHICLES: US Specs seeks import eligibility for 2006-2013 Honda NT700V (Deauville) motorcycles, (Jan 14, 2014)
Organizations Mentioned:US Specs
By Joe Bichl
US Specs of Havre de Grace, Maryland, has petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to determine whether nonconforming 2006–2013 Honda NT700V (Deauville) motorcycles are eligible for importation into the United States (NHTSA Notice, 79 FR 7505, January 14, 2014).
Substantially similar to. In its petition, US Specs described the nonconforming 2006–2013 Honda NT700V (Deauville) as the same model as the U.S.-certified 2010–2011 Honda NT700V. However, because the NT700V (Deauville) model was introduced in countries other than the United States as a new model before the introduction of the U.S-certified version in 2010, the company indicated that it could not base its petition on the “substantial similarity” of the 2006–2013 Honda NT700V (Deauville) to the U.S.-certified 2010 Honda NT700V motorcycles due to the petitioning requirements of 49 CFR Part 593.
Petitioner’s assertions. US Specs argued that its vehicles have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being modified to comply with, federal motor vehicle safety standards based on destructive test data. The company contended that the 2006– 2013 Honda NT700V uses the same components as the U.S.-certified 2010–2011 Honda NT700V motorcycles in virtually all of the systems subject to the applicable standards. Specifically, the petitioner claims that 2006–2013 Honda NT700V (Deauville) motorcycles have safety features that comply with Standard Nos. 106, “Brake Hoses,” 116, “Motor Vehicle Brake Fluid,” 119, “New Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other than Passenger Cars,” 122, “Motorcycle Brake Systems,” and 205, “Glazing Materials.” The petitioner further contended that the vehicles are capable of being altered to comply with the following: FMVSS Nos. 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment,” 111, “Rearview Mirrors, 120 “Tire Selection and Rims for Vehicles other than Passenger Cars,” 123, “Motorcycle Controls and Displays,” and 205, “Glazing Materials.”
Companies: US Specs
RegulatoryActivity: NoticesFR ImportEligibilityNews MotorVehiclesNews