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Gentex Names Hollars Senior Vice President - International

18 March 1999

Gentex Names Hollars Senior Vice President - International

    ZEELAND, Mich., March 18 -- Gentex Corporation
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fred Bauer today announced the
appointment of James A. Hollars to the position of Senior Vice President -
International.  Gentex, based in Zeeland, Michigan, is a leading manufacturer
of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and commercial fire protection products.
    Hollars comes to Gentex with nearly 35 years of automotive experience,
beginning at Chrysler Corporation followed by 26 years with Lear Corporation,
including six years in Germany.  His career at Lear included a number of
senior positions.  Most recently, he was Group Vice President of the Premium
Car Interiors Group, with responsibility for all activities with Audi, BMW,
DaimlerChrysler and Porsche.
    "We are quite pleased to have Jim on the Gentex team," said Bauer.  "He
will report to me and will focus principally on European operations.
    "We believe that he will be a significant asset to the Company as we
aggressively market our products around the world."
    Hollars graduated cum laude from Wayne State University, and received his
MBA from Michigan State University.  He served for two years in the U.S. Army.
Hollars and his wife, Ellen, have two sons.
    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.
    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, Daewoo,
DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Gulf States Toyota, Hyundai,
Infiniti, Kia Motors, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche, Rolls Royce,
Southeast Toyota Distributors and Toyota.
    Founded in 1974, Gentex operates out of three facilities in Zeeland,
Michigan; an automotive sales office in Livonia, Michigan; automotive sales
and engineering subsidiaries in Germany and Japan; 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, for its commitment to developing and maintaining a
highly skilled workforce, and for encouraging employee ownership of the
Company's stock.