Gentex Begins Shipping for VW Beetle

    ZEELAND, Mich., Aug. 21 Gentex Corporation ,
the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors
and commercial fire protection products, has begun shipping interior,
automatic-dimming mirrors for the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle.

    Gentex is shipping interior-mirror subassemblies to Schefenacker Vision
Systems, which places them in the mirror housings and sells the final assembly
to Volkswagen.  The mirror comes standard on the Beetle GLX model.

    Gentex's Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) 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.

    "It's great to have our product on such a popular and uniquely styled
vehicle," said Ken La Grand, Gentex's executive vice president.  "The Beetle
also is currently the smallest North American car to have an automatic-dimming
mirror, further demonstrating that this safety feature is beginning to come
down-market into small and midsize vehicles."

    Schefenacker Vision Systems provides worldwide automotive customers with
advanced, high-quality rearview mirror systems and related products.

    Gentex Corporation is an international company that provides high-quality
products to the worldwide automotive industry and North American fire
protection market.  The Company develops, manufactures and markets proprietary
electro-optic products, including interior and exterior electrochromic,
automatic-dimming Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) automotive rearview mirrors
that dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle
headlamps, and an extensive line of fire protection products for commercial
applications.

    Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and
produce a commercial electrochromic mirror for the motor vehicle industry.
The Company is the leading supplier of these mirrors to the worldwide
automotive industry.  Gentex OEM customers include Audi, Bentley, BMW, Daewoo,
DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia Motors,
Lexus, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche, Rover, Rolls Royce, Samsung Motors,
SsangYong Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen.  Gentex aftermarket/distributor
customers include Gulf States Toyota Distributors, Mito Corporation, Southeast
Toyota Distributors, Subaru Distributors NE and Toyota Motor Sales USA.