Gentex Names Newton Vice President - Purchasing and Photonics

ZEELAND, Mich., Dec. 4, 2006 -- Gentex Corporation, the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and commercial fire protection products, today announced the appointment of Mark Newton as Vice President of Purchasing and Photonics. Newton brings over 22 years of manufacturing, engineering, sales and marketing experience in optoelectronics and automotive lighting to the Company. In addition to the area of photonics, Newton is responsible for Gentex's worldwide purchasing operations for both the automotive and fire protection divisions.

"We are pleased to have Mark in this position, as his level of knowledge and expertise in electronics purchasing and new product development is what we believe the Company needs in the future," said Gentex Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Fred Bauer. "Mark and his group were instrumental in the development of the recently announced Gentex Rear Camera Display Mirror. He's been in the electronics business for many years, and has the knowledge and management experience that will be an ever-growing asset to Gentex as our product line and parts continue to increase in complexity."

Newton joined Gentex in 2004 after working as a Gentex supplier of optoelectronics for six years. He began his career in 1984 with a startup company that had invented an infrared touch computer interface, where he served in manufacturing engineering and manufacturing management positions in Illinois and Texas. Over the years, Newton has worked for several optoelectronics and automotive lighting companies in manufacturing, engineering, sales, marketing and management positions.

He earned bachelors degrees in English and Electrical Engineering Technology from Eastern Illinois University and Parkland College, respectively, and has pursued graduate coursework in business. He and his wife, Jean, have three children and reside in Holland, Michigan.

Gentex Corporation 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.