Gentex Rear Camera Display Mirror for the Daihatsu Mira Cocoa Receives Praise From Japanese Automotive Journalists

ZEELAND, MI--(Marketwire - December 22, 2009) - Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX), the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and camera-based active-safety systems to the worldwide automotive industry, announced today that its interior auto-dimming rearview mirror with Rear Camera Display (RCD) for the Daihatsu Mira Cocoa was recognized by the Automotive Researchers' & Journalists' Conference of Japan (RJC) as one of the top-six new technologies in the 2010 RJC Technology of the Year awards program.

In addition to automatically detecting and eliminating dangerous headlamp glare from rearward approaching vehicles, the Gentex RCD mirror makes backing up safer and easier. When the vehicle is shifted into "reverse," a liquid crystal display (LCD) appears through the mirror's reflective surface and provides a view of the area directly behind the vehicle. The display disappears when the vehicle is shifted into any other gear.

The Gentex RCD Mirror was introduced to the Japan market earlier this year on the Daihatsu Mira Cocoa, a popular micro-minicar designed and appointed to attract younger female car buyers.

According to the Automotive RJC, the Gentex auto-dimming RCD mirror was singled out because it simplifies reversing and parallel parking, especially for younger drivers who may lack confidence driving backwards. The product's smart design and reasonable price were also highly valued.

"The Mira Cocoa was our first program with Daihatsu, so the fact that Japan's Automotive RJC recognizes our RCD mirror's contributions to driver safety, comfort and convenience is particularly gratifying," said Gentex Senior Vice President Enoch Jen.

The Automotive RJC was established in 1991 by prominent professors and journalists to objectively study key automotive issues and recognize important new products and technologies in order to promote the development of sound motorization.

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. More than half of the Company's interior 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.

Contact Information: GENERAL AND 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