Gentex's Business Segments

Gentex Corporation designs and manufactures automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and electronics for the automotive industry, dimmable aircraft windows for the aviation industry, and commercial smoke alarms and signaling devices for the fire protection industry. The Company’s largest business segment involves designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing 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. Within this business segment, the Company also designs, develops and manufactures various electronics features that are value added features to the interior and exterior automotive rearview mirrors as well as interior visors and overhead consoles. The Company ships its products to all of the major automotive producing regions worldwide, which it supports with numerous sales, engineering and distribution locations worldwide.

Dimmable Aircraft Windows
The Company previously announced that it would provide variably dimmable windows for the passenger compartment on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Series of Aircraft. The Company continues to ship parts for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Series of Aircraft.

Fire Protection Products

The Company manufactures photoelectric smoke detectors and alarms, visual signaling alarms, photoelectric smoke detectors and electrochemical carbon monoxide alarms, electrochemical carbon monoxide detectors and alarms, audible and visual signaling alarms, and bells and speakers for use in fire detection systems in office buildings, hotels, and other commercial and residential establishments.

Automotive Products

Automotive Rearview Mirrors and Electronics. Automotive applications are the largest business segment for the Company, consisting of interior and exterior electrochromic automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and automotive electronics. The Company manufactures interior electrochromic automatic-dimming rearview mirrors that darken to reduce glare and improve visibility for the driver. These electronic interior mirrors can also include additional electronic features such as compass, microphones, HomeLink®, lighting assist and driver assist forward safety camera systems, various lighting systems, various telematics systems, universal toll modules, and a wide variety of displays. The Company also ships interior non-automatic-dimming rearview mirrors with features.

The Company’s interior electrochromic automatic-dimming rearview mirrors also power the application of the Company’s exterior electrochromic automatic-dimming rearview mirrors that darken to reduce glare and improve visibility for the driver. These electronic exterior mirrors typically range in size and shape per automaker specification, but also include additional features such as turn signal indicators, side blind zone indicators, and courtesy lighting. The Company also ships exterior non-automatic-dimming rearview mirrors with similar electronic features available in its automatic-dimming applications.

The Company manufactures other automotive electronics products both inside and outside of the rearview mirror through HomeLink® applications in the vehicle including the rearview mirror, interior visor, overhead console, or center console.

The Company produces rearview mirrors and electronics for automotive passenger cars, light trucks, pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide, tier one automotive mirror manufacturers worldwide, and various aftermarket and accessory customers. Automotive rearview mirrors and electronics accounted for 98% of the Company’s consolidated net sales in 2015.

The Company is the leading manufacturer of electrochromic automatic-dimming rearview mirrors in the world, and is the dominant supplier to the automotive industry. Competitors for automotive rearview mirrors include Magna International, YH America, Inc., BYD Auto Company, Murakami Kaimeido Company, Steelmate, Tokai Rika Company, Ningbo Kingband, and Beijing Sincode. The Company also supplies electrochromic automatic-dimming rearview mirrors to certain of these rearview mirror competitors.