Contact Information: FINANCIAL MEDIA AND INVESTOR CONTACT: Connie Hamblin 616/772-1800 GENERAL MEDIA CONTACT: Craig Piersma 616/772-1800 EXCHANGE: NASDAQ Global Select Market SYMBOL: GNTX WEBSITE: www.gentex.com
Ford F-Series Pickups First to Offer Gentex Mirror-Based Backup Camera Display as Original Equipment
| Source: Gentex Corporation
ZEELAND, MI--(Marketwire - June 4, 2007) - Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ : GNTX ), the leading
supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors to the worldwide automotive
industry, has announced that its rear camera display mirror will be
available for the first time as original equipment on 2008 Ford F-Series
full-size pickups.
The Gentex auto-dimming interior mirror contains an LCD display that works
with a video camera mounted in the tailgate-handle bezel to provide a view
directly behind the vehicle while backing up. This innovative convenience
feature will be available as an option on 2008 F-Series trucks, which have
been America's best selling full-size pickups for 30 years.
When the vehicle is shifted into "reverse," a 2.4-inch diagonal LCD display
appears automatically through the auto-dimming mirror's reflective surface.
The display disappears when the vehicle is shifted into any other gear. The
unique capability for the display to appear through the mirror's surface is
made possible by Gentex's proprietary "transflective" coatings and lighting
techniques, which result in a bright, high-resolution color image.
The rear camera display mirrors supplied for the Ford F-Series also darken
automatically to eliminate glare from the headlamps of vehicles approaching
from the rear for improved nighttime driving. In addition, the mirrors come
integrated with Gentex's proprietary Z-Nav compass transducer, a highly
accurate compass sensor that determines the vehicle's directional heading.
"Rear cameras are becoming an increasingly popular feature, and we're
excited to be working with Ford in offering this unique display solution to
F-150 buyers," said Gentex Senior Vice President Enoch Jen. "The mirror is
an ideal and intuitive location to display rear camera video because it
allows the driver to view the display and the reflected scene
simultaneously. The rear camera display is a great tool for backing up to
boat, RV and utility trailers."
Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ : GNTX ) is an international
company that provides high-quality products to the worldwide automotive
industry and North American fire protection market. Based in Zeeland,
Michigan, 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. Many of the mirrors are
sold with advanced electronic features, and more than 96 percent of the
Company's revenues are derived from the sale of auto-dimming mirrors to
nearly every major automaker in the world.