Gentex Dimmable Sun Visor Named Finalist for 2026 Automotive News PACE Award

ZEELAND, Mich., Aug. 3, 2026 — Gentex Corporation announced today that its innovative Dimmable Sun Visor has been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Automotive News PACE Awards. The prestigious awards program celebrates game-changing innovations that drive the global automotive industry forward. The Gentex Dimmable Sun Visor is one of just 32 finalists selected for this year's awards.

The Gentex Dimmable Sun Visor applies the company's proven electrochromic technology to a new safety and convenience application, allowing drivers to reduce glare from sunlight and headlights while maintaining a clear view of the road ahead. Unlike traditional opaque sun visors that can block a driver's field of vision, the transparent visor automatically or manually darkens to the desired level, providing customizable glare control without obstructing forward visibility.

"Being named a PACE Award finalist is a tremendous honor and a reflection of our team's commitment to improving driver vision and vehicle safety through innovation," said Neil Boehm, Chief Operations and Technology Officer. "The Dimmable Sun Visor builds on decades of expertise in electrochromic technology and represents the next evolution of an everyday vehicle component that has remained largely unchanged for generations."

Designed to function like a conventional sun visor, the Dimmable Sun Visor features a transparent electrochromic panel that can darken on demand or automatically when paired with vehicle sensors. The system reduces glare while allowing drivers to continue viewing traffic signals, road conditions, pedestrians, and other critical elements in the forward field of view.

The Dimmable Sun Visor continues a long history of Gentex innovation recognized by the Automotive News PACE Awards. Since 1995, Gentex technologies have been named PACE Award winners eight times and finalists on three additional occasions. Past winning innovations include the world's first exterior automatic-dimming mirror, SmartBeam®, Rear Camera Display, Full Display Mirror®, and Integrated Toll Module®.

Winners of the 2026 Automotive News PACE Awards will be announced this fall during the MEMA conference in Metro Detroit.