New Rearview-Mirror-Based Camera Display Takes the Guesswork Out of Backing Up

New Rearview-Mirror-Based Camera Display Takes the Guesswork Out of Backing Up

October 31, 2006

    ZEELAND, Mich., Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Backing
up cars, trucks and SUVs can be a dangerous task.  Blind
spots directly behind the vehicle can lead to accidents
that result in property damage, or even injury or death to
small children.  To help reduce these risks, Gentex
Corporation, the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of
automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and commercial fire
protection products, has developed a backup video display
in an automatic-dimming rearview mirror.

    (Photo: 
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061030/DEM003 )  

    Gentex's video display mirror consists of a proprietary
liquid crystal display (LCD) device that shows a panoramic
video view of objects behind the vehicle in real time. 
When the vehicle is put in "reverse," the display
illuminates and automatically appears through the rearview
mirror's reflective surface to give a high resolution,
bright-colored image.  The image is generated by a camera
or cameras placed in a protected area at the rear of the
vehicle.  When the vehicle is put in "drive," the
display in the mirror automatically disappears.  The ability
to automatically have the display appear through the
automatic-dimming mirror's surface is made possible by
utilizing proprietary "transflective" coatings
developed by Gentex Corporation.

    Many of the popular high volume vehicles today have
high back windows which may also be tinted.  

    "We're excited about this product from a safety
perspective, as it should help reduce the risk of backup
accidents for any vehicle, many of which involve small
children playing directly behind the vehicle," said
Gentex Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fred Bauer. 
"It also may help to prevent vehicular damage from
backing up into objects that otherwise would go undetected
by the driver."  

    Bauer said that the Company also is excited by the
convenience of the feature for attaching towable trailers
for boats or RVs and utility trailers, since lining up the
hitch ball to the trailer can be a challenge for even the
most experienced driver.

    "This makes it a piece of cake," said Bauer. 
"Adding to the impact is the 'WOW effect' where the
image magically appears and disappears at just the right
time.  It's just plain cool and high tech!"

    Gentex already has development programs in progress for
its video display mirror with several automakers.  Toyota
plans to show the mirror on a Tacoma this week at the SEMA
(Specialty Equipment Market Association) automotive show in
Las Vegas, Nevada.

    "The rearview mirror is the ideal location for a
backup display because it allows the driver to view the
display and the mirror at the same time," said Bauer. 
"In addition, automakers like the display in the mirror
because it's quick-to-market, easy to install and service,
and relatively low cost because it doesn't require them to
retool dashboards or center consoles, or make the
additional significant investment in another LCD or other
type of display." 

    Gentex is best known for its automatic-dimming mirrors
that sense glare from rearward approaching vehicles and
automatically dim to protect driver vision.  The mirrors
often come with additional electronic features such as
compass displays, map lights, hands-free microphones --
even miniature cameras that control your high beams.

    Bauer said that the video display mirror is intended to
be used as a supplemental device for drivers and does not
eliminate the need to check rearview mirrors or walk around
the vehicle, should conditions warrant.

    "When it comes to backing up safely, nothing beats
walking around the vehicle prior to moving it," added
Bauer.  "But the video display mirror delivers peace
of mind while backing up because it provides a view
directly behind the vehicle and helps you identify
potential hazards in your rearward path."

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This news release contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended, that are based on management's
belief, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and
projections about the global automotive industry, the
economy, the impact of stock option expenses on earnings,
the ability to leverage fixed manufacturing overhead costs,
unit shipment growth rates and the Company itself.  Words
like "anticipates," "believes,"
"confident," "estimates,"
"expects," "forecast,"
"likely," "plans,"
"projects," and "should," and
variations of such words and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements.  These statements do not
guarantee future performance and involve certain risks,
uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to
predict with regard to timing, expense, likelihood and
degree of occurrence.  These risks include, without
limitation, employment and general economic conditions, the
pace of economic recovery in the U.S. and in international
markets, the pace of automotive production worldwide, the
types of products purchased by customers, competitive
pricing pressures, currency fluctuations, the financial
strength of the Company's customers, the mix of products
purchased by customers, the ability to continue to make
product innovations, the success of newly introduced
products (e.g. Video Display Mirror), and other risks
identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.  Therefore actual results and outcomes
may materially differ from what is expressed or forecasted.
 Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to
update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise.

    About the Company

    Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (Nasdaq Global
Market: GNTX) is an international company that provides
high-quality products to the worldwide automotive industry
and North American fire protection market.  Based in
Zeeland, Michigan, the Company develops, manufactures and
markets interior and exterior automatic-dimming automotive
rearview mirrors that utilize proprietary electrochromic
technology to dim in proportion to the amount of headlight
glare from trailing vehicle headlamps. Many of the mirrors
are sold with advanced electronic features, and
approximately 95 percent of the Company's revenues are
derived from the sales of auto-dimming mirrors to nearly
every major automaker in the world.

    For more information, please contact:

    Financial Media and Investors: 
     Connie Hamblin
     Gentex Corporation
     Tel:   [phone]

    General Media: 
     Craig Piersma
     Gentex Corporation
     Tel:   [phone]

SOURCE  Gentex Corporation