Gentex Announces New Rear Camera Display Mirror Program With Nissan

ZEELAND, MI--(Marketwire - Jun 7, 2011) - Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX), the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and camera-based driver-assist systems for the automotive industry, commercial fire protection products and dimmable aircraft windows, has announced that it is supplying auto-dimming mirrors with advanced features for the 2011 /2012 Nissan NV. The new NV (Nissan Van) is the automaker's first full-size commercial van built for the U.S. market.

The Gentex Rear Camera Display Mirror (RCD) is offered as optional equipment on all NV trim levels. Also available as a stand-alone option is an auto-dimming mirror with HomeLink® (Johnson Control's fully integrated Wireless Control System) and digital compass.

"The use of Gentex RCD mirrors in commercial vehicles continues to grow. We are excited that Nissan has included our products in the launch of its new commercial vehicle division in the U.S.," stated Enoch Jen, Gentex Senior Vice President.

The RCD Mirror contains a liquid crystal display (LCD) that works with an automaker's specified video camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle to provide a view directly behind the vehicle while backing up. When the vehicle is shifted into "reverse," a display appears automatically through the auto-dimming mirror's reflective surface. The display disappears when the vehicle is shifted into any other gear, a capability that is made possible utilizing Gentex's "transflective" coating and lighting techniques, which result in a bright, high-resolution color image.

The HomeLink feature consists of three buttons conveniently located on the face of the interior auto-dimming mirror that may be programmed to operate garage door openers, estate gates, security systems, home lighting, and other radio frequency-controlled devices.

Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation is the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and driver-assist systems to the global automotive industry. The Company also provides commercial smoke alarms and signaling devices to the North American fire protection market, as well as dimmable aircraft windows for the commercial, business and general aviation markets. Based in Zeeland, Michigan, the international 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 half of the Company's interior mirrors are sold with advanced electronic features, and more than 98 percent of the Company's net sales are derived from the sale of auto-dimming mirrors to nearly every major automaker in the world.