Wallace Tsuha Appointed to Gentex Board of Directors; Board Declares Recurring Quarterly Cash Dividend

ZEELAND, Mich., Nov. 17, 2003 -- Gentex Corporation , the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and commercial fire protection products, today announced that Wallace K. Tsuha has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors. Tsuha will serve as a director until the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 13, 2004. The Company's Board of Directors intends to nominate Tsuha for election by the Company's shareholders at the annual meeting.

The Company's Board of Directors also approved a continuing resolution to pay a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share until the Board of Directors takes other action with respect to the payment of dividends. The next quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share will be payable January 22, 2004, to shareholders of record of the common stock at the close of business on January 8, 2004. The ex-dividend date is January 6, 2004. Due to the required period of time for the settlement of stock trades, this means that you must have purchased shares of Gentex common stock on or before January 2, 2004, in order to receive this cash dividend.

Tsuha is chairman and chief executive officer of Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc. in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a global supplier of automotive electronics, electrical wiring, and electro-mechanical products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their first tier suppliers.

"We are extremely pleased that Wally has agreed to join the Gentex Board of Directors," said Gentex Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fred Bauer. "His strong business and technical skills and entrepreneurial background provide him with the keen ability to understand our business from both a technical and financial perspective. We believe that he will truly be an asset to the Company's Board and its shareholders."

The Company also stated that longtime Gentex Board member Mickey Fouts has announced his retirement from the Board after 22 years of service.

"I'd like to recognize the many years of service on the Gentex Board by Mickey Fouts. As a Board member since 1982, Mickey has seen this company grow from practically nothing to over $400 million in annual revenue. We offer our best wishes to Mickey in the future," Bauer concluded.

Tsuha is chairman of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the boards of the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the Original Equipment Supplier Association (OESA). He is a member of the Minority Business Round Table, as well as the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation. He lives in Rochester Hills, Michigan, with his wife, Kim.

Saturn Electronics & Engineering was founded by Tsuha in 1985. The company's highly innovative products are designed, engineered and manufactured worldwide for the automotive, computer, and telecommunications industries in the North American, European and Asian markets. The company offers integrated, cost-effective solutions, and provides a broad range of services, including design and engineering, supply chain management, manufacturing and assembly, testing and qualification, and after-sales support.

Gentex Corporation (The Nasdaq Stock Market: GNTX) is an international company that provides high-quality products to the worldwide automotive industry and North American fire protection market. 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. More than 95 percent of the Company's revenue is derived from the sale of those products to the world automotive industry.

Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and produce a commercial automatic-dimming rearview mirror. After more than 15 years of supplying these products in the highly competitive global automotive industry, the Company remains the leading supplier of these mirrors. Gentex OEM customers include Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Kia Motors, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Renault Samsung, Rover, Rolls Royce, SsangYong Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car Corporation.

Founded in 1974, Gentex has its manufacturing facilities in Zeeland, Michigan, and automotive sales and engineering offices in Detroit, Michigan; Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, France and Korea. The Company is recognized for its quality products; for its proprietary manufacturing skills and equipment and application of world class manufacturing principles; for its commitment to developing and maintaining a highly skilled workforce, and for encouraging employee ownership of the Company's stock.

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