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Gentex Announces BMW X5 Business

14 October 1999

Gentex Announces BMW X5 Business

    ZEELAND, Mich., Oct. 14 -- Gentex Corporation ,
the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors
and commercial fire protection products, has recently begun shipping interior
and exterior automatic-dimming mirrors for BMW's all-new sports activity
vehicle, the X5.
    Gentex's Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) Mirrors are an active, crash-
avoidance safety feature that use a combination of sophisticated sensors and
electronic circuitry to detect glare from trailing vehicles and automatically
darken to eliminate the glare and make nighttime driving safer.
    For the X5, Gentex is supplying BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant
with automatic-dimming interior mirrors, as well as supplying flat and convex
automatic-dimming exterior mirror subassemblies to Magna International, the
Tier 1 supplier of the completed exterior mirrors.  Depending on the option
package selected, the vehicle will be equipped with either an NVS(R) interior
mirror, or a complete NVS(R) three-mirror system.
    "It's a privilege to be contributing to the impressive list of safety
features available on the X5," said Ken La Grand, Gentex's executive vice
president.  "The SAV is defining a brand new class of vehicle, and is sure to
be a hit with the driving public."
    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.  Revenues from the sale of automatic-dimming mirrors represent
about 92 percent of total Company revenues.
    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, Land Rover, Lexus, Nissan, Opel, Porsche, Rolls Royce,
Samsung, 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 four 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.