CSMS Message: 96-000002

TO : ALL ABI BROKERS.

FROM : LEO WELLS

SUBJECT : OGA-MOTOR VEHICLES FROM CANADA

DATE : 01/02/96

5362111
DECEMBER 28, 1996

RES-1-FO:TC:I:E LW

CATEGORY: RES

TO: ALL PORT AND AREA DIRECTORS OF CUSTOMS

FROM: DIRECTOR, TRADE COMPLIANCE DIVISION

RE: IMPORTATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES FROM CANADA - DOT REQUIREMENTS

WE REFER TO OUR PREVIOUS EMAIL MESSAAGES (5186111 OF 7/5/95;
5054111 OF 2/23/95; AND 2206113 OF 7/24/92) RELATING, IN PART, TO
THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) MOTOR
VEHICLE LABEL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO MOTOR VEHICLES
IMPORTED FROM CANADA. IN THIS REGARD, BASED ON NEW OPERATIONAL
GUIDELINES RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM DOT HEADQUARTERS, THE FOLLOWING
PROCEDURES SUPERCEDE SUCH EMAIL MESSAGES AND WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT
ALL CUSTOMS PORTS OF ENTRY. THESE NEW DOT PROCEDURES ARE EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY.

ACTIONS:

1. ASCERTAINMENT OF CANADIAN-MADE VEHICLE

- AFTER JANUARY 1, 1996, THE DOT CERTIFICATION LABEL ON ALL
CANADIAN-MADE VEHICLES FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET WILL BE
BILINGUAL AND WILL STATE THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS CANADIAN
STANDARDS.

- FOR PRE 1/1/96 MOTOR VEHICLES, THE MAJOR SCALE ON THE
SPEEDOMETER WILL BE IN KM/H OR THE DOT CERTIFICATION LABEL
WILL STATE THAT IT MEETS CANADIAN VEHICLE STANDARDS.

- AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 1989, ALL PASSENGER CARS CERTIFIED FOR
THE UNITED STATES AS TO MEETING THE DOT SAFETY STANDARDS
MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH A PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE
FOLLOWING SYSTEMS ARE CONSIDERED PASSIVE RESTRAINTS (THIS
IS ANOTHER METHOD BY WHICH CUSTOMS CAN DETERMINE A U.S.-
VERSION VEHICLE MADE AFTER 9/1/89):

A. AIR BAGS
B. MOTORIZED BELT SYSTEM (BELT MOVES ON MOTORIZED TRACK)
C. BELT SYSTEM ATTACHES TO THE DOOR NOT THE B-PILLAR
OF THE CAR

2. DOT GUIDANCE TO IMPORTING PUBLIC

CUSTOMS FIELD OFFICES SHOULD PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFOR-
MATION TO SOMEONE IMPORTING A VEHICLE FROM CANADA OR WALK-INS
ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN DOT/CUSTOMS RELEASE:

A. IMPORTERS SHOULD OBTAIN A LETTER OF CONFORMITY FROM THE
CANADIAN MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS ALL
U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS.

B. CUSTOMS FIELD OFFICES SHOULD GIVE THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE
CANADIAN MANUFACTURER FROM THE LIST INCLUDED IN ITEM 3
HEREIN.

C. IMPORTER SHOULD FAX THE CANADIAN MANUFACTURER'S LETTER OF
COMFORMITY ALONG WITH A COPY OF THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION TO
DOT AT (202) 366-1024.

D. DOT APPROVAL PERIOD FOR THIS IMPORTER REQUEST IS APPROXI-
MATELY 10 BUSINESS DAYS. IMPORTER CALLS TO DOT HEADQUARTERS
BY PHONE WILL ONLY SLOW THE APPROVAL PROCESS.

E. CUSTOMS FIELD OFFICES SHOULD HANDOUT THE NEW DOT INFORMATION
SHEET, ENTITLED "DOT REQUIREMENTS TO IMPORT A CAR FROM
CANADA", WHICH WILL BE SHORTLY FAXED TO ALL PORT AND AREA
DIRECTORS FOR DISSEMINATION TO THE IMPORTING PUBLIC AS WELL
AS CUSTOMS INSPECTORS AND IMPORT SPECIALISTS PROCESSING
VEHICLE IMPORTATIONS.

3. CANADIAN MANUFACTURER CONTACT PHONE LIST

- ACURA DIVISION-AMERICAN HONDA USA: (310) 783-3260
1919 TORRANCE BOULEVARD
TORRANCE, CA 90501-2746 CANADA: (310) 783-3260
(ATTN: RICHARD DOWNING,
CONSUMER AFFAIRS)

- ALFA ROMEO/FIAT USA: (810) 488-5600

CANADA: (810) 488-5600

- AUDI USA: 1-800-822-2834
AUDI CUSTOMER RELATIONS
3800 HAMLIN ROAD CANADA: 1-800-822-2834
AUBURN HILLS, MI 48326

- BMW OF NORTH AMERICA USA: (201) 573-2194
1 BMW PLAZA (ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPT.)
MONTVALE, NJ 07645

BMW HEADQUARTERS CANADA: (905) 683-1200
920 CHAMPLAIN COURT
WHITBY, ONTARIO
CANADA L1N 6K9

- CHRYSLER CORPORATION USA: 1-800-992-1997
NATIONAL OWNER RELATIONS DEPT. (313) 956-2101
26001 LAWRENCE AVENUE (CUSTOMER CENTER)
CENTER LINE, MI 48015-1231 CANADA: 1-800-333-0558

- FORD-FORD MOTOR COMPANY USA: 1-800-392-3673
P.O. BOX 43360
DETROIT, MI 48242

FORD-FORD MOTOR COMPANY CANADA CANADA: 1-800-565-3673
THE CANADIAN ROAD
P.O. BOX 2000
OAKVILLE, ONTARIO
CANADA L6J 5E4

- GENERAL MOTORS USA: (313) 556-7777
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES STAFF FAX: (313) 556-9003
ROOM 12-204
3044 WEST GRAND BOULEVARD
DETROIT, MI 48202

GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA LIMITED CANADA: (905) 644-5843
908 COLONELL SAM DRIVE FAX: (905) 644-5436
OSHAWA, ONTARIO
CANADA L1H 8P7

- GMC/WHITE/VOLVO-HEAVY TRUCKS USA: (910) 393-2000
7825 NATIONAL SERVICE ROAD (VOLVO TRUCKS)
GREENSBORO, NC 27400
INTERNATIONAL:(910) 279-2242

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (910) 393-2409

- HARELY DAVIDSON USA: (717) 848-1177
YORK, PA CANADA: (717) 848-1177

- HONDA-AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. USA: (310) 783-3260
1919 TORRANCE BOULEVARD
TORRANCE, CA 90501-2746 CANADA: (310) 783-2000
(ASK FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS)

- HYUNDAI-HYUNDAI AMERICA USA: (313)747-6600
TECHNICAL CENTER, INC. FAX: (313)747-6699
5075 VENTURE DRIVE
ANN ARBOR, MI 48108

HYUNDAI AUTO CANADA CANADA: (905) 477-0202
MARKHAM, ONTARIO (ASK FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE)
CANADA L3R 6H2

- INTERNATIONAL FROM NAVISTAR USA: (219) 461-1826

GARY COFFEE CANADA: (219) 461-1826

- ISUZU USA: 1-800-255-6727

CANADA: 1-800-255-6727

- JAGUAR-JAGUAR CARS, INC. USA: (201) 818-8171
555 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD
MAHWAH, NJ 07430-2327 CANADA: (201) 818-8171

FAX: (201) 818-9897
- MGB MOTOR CARS (LAND ROVER) USA: (301) 731-9040
4390 PARLIAMENT PLACE (ASK FOR DENNIS JOHNSTON,
P.O. BOX 1503 MANAGER, REGULATORY AFFAIRS)
LANHAM, MD 20706
CANADA: (301) 731-9040
(ASK FOR DENNIS JOHNSTON,
MANAGER, REGULATORY AFFAIRS)

- MAZDA USA: (313) 930-2500
1203 WOODBRIDGE AVENUE
ANN ARBOR, MI 48105 CANADA: (313) 930-2500

- MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA USA: (201) 573-2632
1 MERCEDES DRIVE
MONTVALE, NJ 07645

MERCEDES-BENZ CANADA CANADA: (416)425-3550
849 EGLINGTON AVENUE EAST FAX: (416)423-5027
TORONTO, ONTARIO
CANADA M4G 2L5

- MITSUBISHI MOTORS OF AMERICA USA: (714) 372-6000
6400 KALELLA AVENUE
CYPRESS, CA 90630 CANADA: (714) 372-6000

- NISSAN MOTOR CORPORATION USA: (310) 719-5467
P.O. BOX 191
GARDENA, CA 90248-0191 CANADA: (310) 719-5467

- PORSCHE CARS OF NORTH AMERICA USA: (702) 348-3000
100 WEST LIBERTY STREET 1-800-545-8039
P.O.BOX 30911
RENO, NV 89520-3911 CANADA: (702) 348-3000

- SAAB USA: (770) 279-6364

DIANE REMBER CANADA: (770) 279-6364

- SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. USA: 1-800-782-2783
SUBARU PLAZA FAX: (609) 488-0485
P.O. BOX 6000
CHERRY HILL, NJ 08034-6000 CANADA: 1-800-782-2783
(PATTI MICKEL)

- SUZUKI-AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. USA: (714) 996-7040
3251 EAST IMPERIAL HIGHWAY
POST OFFICE BOX 1100 CANADA: (714) 996-7040
BREA, CA 92622-1100
FAX: (714) 970-6005

- TOYOTA-TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, INC. USA: (310) 618-4000
19001 SOUTH WESTERN AVENUE FAX: (310) 618-7800
P.O. BOX 2991
TORRANCE, CA 90509-2991 CANADA: (310) 618-4000
- VOKKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. USA: 1-800-822-8987
CONSUMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
3800 HAMLIN ROAD CANADA: 1-800-822-8987
AUBURN HILLS, MI 48326

- VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. USA: (201) 768-7300
VOLVO DRIVE FAX: (201) 784-4525
ROCKLEIGH, NJ 07647

VOLVO CANADA LTD. CANADA: 1-800-663-8255
175 GORDON BAKER ROAD FAX: (416) 493-8754
NORTH YORK, ONTARIO
CANADA M2H 2N7

- YAMAHA USA: (714) 761-7710
CYPRESS, CA

MIKE SCHMITT CANADA: (714) 761-7710

4. QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS ISSUANCE

- QUESTIONS BY THE IMPORTING PUBLIC REGARDING THIS ISSUANCE
SHOULD BE REFERRED TO DOT HQ., NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC
SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, EQUIPMENT AND IMPORTS DIVISION, AT
(202) 366-5306.

- QUESTIONS BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS CONCERNING THIS ISSUANCE SHOULD
BE DIRECTED TO CUSTOMS HQ., TRADE COMPLIANCE DIVISION,
COMMERCIAL ENFORCEMENT, AT (202) 927-0771 OR (202) 927-0192.

PHILIP METZGER