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Gentex: Toyota Offers Gentex Mirror-Based Backup Camera Display on 2009 SUV

^{Published on 2008-12-10 08:50:08 - Market Wire}
 

ZEELAND, MI--(Marketwire - December 10, 2008) - Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: [ GNTX ]), the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry, has announced that it is shipping its Rear Camera Display (RCD) Mirror and base feature auto-dimming mirrors for the 2009 Toyota RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV). The compact SUV went on sale in North America and Asia this fall and will launch in Europe in early 2009.

The Gentex auto-dimming interior mirror with RCD is available as a stand-alone option on the Sport and Limited RAV4 trim levels in North America and will be standard on the RAV4X in Europe. The RCD Mirror contains a liquid crystal display (LCD) that works with a video camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle to provide a view directly behind the vehicle while backing up. 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 capability for the display to appear through the mirror's surface is made possible by Gentex's "transflective" coating and lighting techniques, which result in a bright, high-resolution color image. In addition, a base interior auto-dimming mirror is available on vehicles sold in Europe and Asia.

"Toyota continues to offer our auto-dimming RCD Mirrors on a broader portion of its vehicle line up," said Enoch Jen, Gentex Senior Vice President. "This is the third RCD Mirror program we've announced with Toyota and we're excited about the prospects for this technology in the North American, European and Asian markets."

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 97 percent of the Company's revenues are derived from the sale of auto-dimming mirrors to nearly every major automaker in the world.