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The Volvo V50 Features Gentex Mirrors

March 23, 2004

Gentex Corporation, the leading supplier of automatic-dimming mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry, has begun shipping interior automatic-dimming mirrors for the Volvo Car Corporation's new V50 sports wagon, which is expected in showrooms this spring. The car will be sold worldwide.

Gentex auto-dimming mirrors automatically darken to reduce glare from the headlamps of vehicles approaching from the rear. The brighter the glare, the darker the mirrors become, making nighttime driving safer.

V50 vehicles sold in the United States will be equipped with a Gentex auto-dimming interior mirror that features a built-in electronic compass display utilizing Johnson Controls' PathPoint^® Digital Compass System. All V50 models shipped elsewhere worldwide, excluding base vehicles, will come with a base Gentex interior auto-dimming mirror.

The Gentex V50 mirrors comply with new, international, End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) directives that seek to prevent waste and potentially hazardous substances from entering the environment. ELV legislation, which is currently being enacted in many European and Asian nations, bans some potentially hazardous materials while encouraging the reuse, recycling and recovery of various automotive components on vehicles reaching the end of their useful life.

"Gentex's ability to meet European market requirements is what helped us secure the V50 business, and since this is only our second vehicle program with Volvo Cars, we look forward to growing our relationship," said Gentex Executive Vice President Garth Deur.

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, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, PSA, Renault Samsung, MG 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.

Source: Gentex Corporation