Interpretation ID: nht76-1.4

DATE: 07/09/76

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; F. Berndt; NHTSA

TO: Honorable Bob Sikes

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in response to your May 10, 1976, communication enclosing a letter from Mr. John C. Richardson concerning the importation of passenger cars with "metric instrumentation." Your communication was forwarded to this agency by the National Bureau of Standards for reply.

Mr. Richardson has encountered difficulty in importing a 1976 model 911 Porsche with metric instrumentation. He has received a letter from Volkswagen of America, Inc., suggesting that "such instrumentation would be illegal and not certified with the appropriate U.S. Government agencies." While the precise meaning of "metric instrumentation" is not clear from either letter, I assume that Mr. Richardson is referring to the marking of the speedometer (in kilometers per hour) and the calibration of the odometer (in kilometers traveled).

The Federal motor vehicle safety standards administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration do not presently require any particular form of marking for speedometers or odometers. While we are considering the establishment of a requirement that English units be used, such a rule would permit metric units as an optional addition. Furthermore, such a rule would only be applied prospectively.

SINCERELY,

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Bureau of Standards

May 26, 1976

Honorable Bob Sikes House of Representatives

This is in reply to your letter of May 1 requesting information on behalf of Mr. John C. Richardson, concerning the legality of metric instrumentation on imported cars.

Since the responsibility for instrumentation panels on automobiles lies with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, we are forwarding your letter and attachments to Mr. Robert Aubuchon, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Standards Enforcement, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590, 202-426-1693.

Jeffrey V. Odom Chief, Metric Information Office

cc: ROBERT AUBUCHON Congress of the United States House of Representatives

May 10, 1976

Mr. Jeff Odom, Chief Metric Information Office National Bureau of Standards

The attached communication is sent for your consideration. Please investigate the statements contained therein and forward me the necessary information for reply, returning the enclosed correspondence with your answer.

Bob Sikes M.C.

May 1, 1976

Dear Congressman Sikes,

Congress has initiated the change from the English measuring system to the metric system. Already some of the American cars are appearing with dual instrumentation. However, when I tried to order a car from Porsche, a subsidiary of Volkswagon, I was told that metric instruments were illegal. See attached letter from Volkswagon of America.

Could you please find out why this is illegal on imported cars on not on American made cars? As an engineer I am firmly committed to the change to the metric system and looking forward to your clearing this matter.

Thank-you for your help.

John C. Richardson

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC.

April 22, 1976

John Richardson

Please be advised that we have checked the feasibility of delivering to you a 1976, 911 Porsche with metric instrumentation.

We have checked with our National Headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, which in turn checked with Germany. Unfortunately, we have to inform you that such instrumentation would be illegal and not certified with the appropriate U. S. Government agencies.

Dual instrumentation, unfortunately, also is not available.

We very much regret our inability to be of assistance.

G. E. Magnus Customer Assistance Supervisor