1998 General Motors Mid-Size Sport/Utility Vehicles To Feature Gentex Auto-Dimming Interior Mirrors

27 August 1997
1998 General Motors Mid-Size Sport/Utility Vehicles To Feature Gentex Auto-Dimming Interior Mirrors

    ZEELAND, Mich., Aug. 27 -- Gentex Corporation ,
the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming mirrors and fire
protection products, today announced that it is supplying interior Night
Vision Safety(TM)(NVS(R)) Mirrors for the new 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, GMC Jimmy
and Oldsmobile Bravada models.  NVS Mirrors automatically darken precisely to
the level required to reduce glare from the headlamps of vehicles approaching
from the rear.  The brighter the glare, the darker the mirrors become.
    "We are excited that we have successfully penetrated the mid-size
sport/utility vehicle segment at General Motors," said Gentex Executive Vice
President Kenneth La Grand.  "We expect that this order will significantly add
to our unit shipments, since about 50 percent of these mid-size sport/utility
models will be built with an NVS Mirror."
    The 1998 Chevrolet Blazer LT and GMC Jimmy SLT models will feature a base
interior NVS Mirror as standard equipment, while either a base interior NVS
Mirror or an NVS Mirror with map lights will be offered as an option on all
other trim levels.  The base-feature NVS Mirror is standard equipment on the
Oldsmobile Bravada.
    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 proprietary
electro-optic products, including interior and exterior electrochromic,
automatic-dimming Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) automotive rearview mirrors
that dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle
headlamps, and an extensive line of fire protection products for commercial
applications.  The Company's Automotive Products Group is ISO 9001 registered
and is in compliance with QS-9000, quality designations that soon will be
required to supply production or service parts to automakers.
    Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and
produce a commercial electrochromic mirror for the motor vehicle industry.
The Company is the leading supplier of these mirrors to the worldwide
automotive industry.  Gentex customers include Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler,
Daewoo, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Gulf States Toyota, Honda, Hyundai,
Infiniti, Kia Motors, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche,
Rolls Royce and Southeast Toyota Distributors.
    Founded in 1974, Gentex operates out of three facilities in Zeeland,
Michigan; an automotive sales and marketing office in Livonia, Michigan; an
automotive sales and engineering subsidiary in Germany; and five regional U.S.
sales offices for the Fire Protection Products Group.  The Company is
recognized for its quality products, its application of world class
manufacturing principles and for its commitment to developing and maintaining
a highly skilled workforce.

SOURCE  Gentex Corporation