Asia PR News

ZEELAND, Mich., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ –

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.

SOURCE: Gentex Corporation

CONTACT: Financial Media and Investors:

Connie Hamblin,
+1-616-772-1800, or

General Media:

Craig Piersma,
+1-616-772-1800,

both of Gentex Corporation

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

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Web site: http://www.gentex.com

(GNTX)