Contact Information: FINANCIAL MEDIA AND INVESTOR CONTACT: Connie Hamblin 616/772-1800 GENERAL MEDIA CONTACT: Craig Piersma 616/772-1800 WEBSITE: www.gentex.com
Gentex's SmartBeam High-Beam Headlamp Assist to Be Offered on Select U.S. BMW Models
| Source: Gentex
ZEELAND, MI--(Marketwire - October 1, 2007) - Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ : GNTX ), the leading
supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors to the worldwide automotive
industry, announced today that its SmartBeam® High-Beam Headlamp Assist
system will be offered on select BMWs in the United States starting this
fall. SmartBeam, which BMW calls "High Beam Assist," will be available on 5
Series and 6 Series produced after September 7th. The feature will be
available as an option in conjunction with Xenon headlamps.
This marks the first SmartBeam application for BMW in the U.S. The
automaker previously launched the high beam assist technology in Europe and
a number of other regions on the 3 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series and
the X5 Sport Activity Vehicle.
SmartBeam uses a miniature camera-on-a-chip combined with algorithmic
decision making to automatically turn a vehicle's high beams on and off
according to surrounding traffic conditions. The system is designed to
maximize forward lighting and to eliminate the repetitive task of turning
the high beams on and off. SmartBeam is integrated into Gentex auto-dimming
mirrors, which automatically darken to reduce glare from the headlamps of
vehicles approaching from the rear.
"Research conducted with drivers in Europe and North America shows a very
positive response to SmartBeam and we are pleased that BMW is expanding
this active safety technology to vehicles sold in the U.S.," said Enoch
Jen, Gentex Senior Vice President. "We believe the SmartBeam technology
aligns extremely well with BMW's reputation for vehicle performance,
safety, comfort and convenience."
The Gentex mirror is also available with Johnson Controls' HomeLink®
Wireless Control System. HomeLink consists of three buttons conveniently
located on the face of the mirror that can be programmed to operate garage
doors, estate gates, security systems, home lighting, and other
radio-frequency-controlled devices.
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.