Gentex Auto-Dimming Mirrors for Toyota's New Camry Solara
8 July 1998
Gentex Achieves Milestone: Auto-Dimming Mirror Available on Toyota's New Camry Solara ZEELAND, Mich., July 8 -- Gentex Corporation ,
the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming mirrors and fire
protection products, today announced that it has begun shipping its base
automatic-dimming mirrors for Toyota's new mid-sized sport coupe, the Camry
Solara.
It is the first time Gentex has sold its products directly to Toyota, and
also the first time a Gentex mirror will appear on a vehicle so solidly in the
mid-sized, mid-priced segment of the market.
Gentex pioneered Night Vision Safety(TM)(NVS(R)) Mirrors, which
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.
The Camry Solara, which goes on sale in August, is based on the Camry
platform, sharing its powertrains and basic suspension design. It is a
significant vehicle for Toyota because it is the first to take advantage of
the combined talents of Toyota's North American styling, engineering and
manufacturing facilities. The Solara was jointly engineered by Toyota Motor
Corporation in Japan and the Toyota Technical Center in Ann
Arbor, Michigan. It was styled at Toyota's CALTY Design Center in Newport
Beach, California, and will be built at Toyota's award-winning production
facility in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.
"The Solara is a milestone for Gentex," said Kenneth La Grand, Gentex
executive vice president. "It represents the first time our mirrors will be
available on a true mid-sized, mid-priced vehicle. Our NVS mirrors have long
been a staple in luxury cars and SUVs, but now we're beginning to see demand
from the mainstream segments of the market. The safety and convenience
afforded by an NVS mirror is appealing to both manufacturers and consumers
alike, and as we become available on more vehicles like the Solara, we'll be
exposing these benefits to more and more of the driving public."
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 customers include Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler,
Daewoo, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Gulf States Toyota, Honda, Hyundai,
Infiniti, Kia Motors, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche,
Rolls Royce and Southeast Toyota Distributors.
Founded in 1974, Gentex operates out of three facilities in Zeeland,
Michigan; an automotive sales office in Livonia, Michigan; automotive sales
and engineering subsidiaries in Germany and Japan; and five regional U.S.
sales offices for the Fire Protection Products Group. The Company is
recognized for its quality products, its application of world class
manufacturing principles, for its commitment to developing and maintaining a
highly skilled workforce, and for encouraging employee ownership of the
Company's stock.
