UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 15, 2003

                         Commission File Number 0-10235

                               GENTEX CORPORATION

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Michigan                                      38-2030505
(State of Incorporation)                   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

600 North Centennial Street, Zeeland, Michigan             49464
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (616) 772-1800




ITEM 7 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)   Exhibits

      99    News release issued by the registrant on October 15, 2003, with
            respect to financial results for the third quarter ended September
            30, 2003.

ITEM 9 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE - On October 15, 2003, Gentex Corporation issued
a news release announcing results for the third quarter of fiscal 2003. A copy
of the news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99. This information furnished
under "ITEM 9 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE" is intended to be furnished under "ITEM
12 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION" in accordance with SEC Release
No. 33-8216.

The information in this Form 8-K and the attached Exhibit shall not be deemed
filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Act of 1934, nor shall it be
deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933,
except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                               GENTEX CORPORATION

                      BY: /s/ Enoch Jen
                          --------------------
                          Enoch Jen
                          Vice President - Finance and
                          Chief Financial Officer

Date: October 15, 2003

                                   EXHIBIT 99

                                     GENTEX
                                   CORPORATION


CONTACT:    Connie Hamblin                   RELEASE:  October 15, 2003
            (616) 772-1800

                   GENTEX REPORTS RECORD THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

      ZEELAND,  Michigan,  October 15, 2003 -- Gentex Corporation,  the Zeeland,
Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and commercial
fire protection products, today reported financial results for the third quarter
and nine months ended September 30, 2003.

      The Company reported an 11 percent increase in revenues to a third-quarter
record of $112.9  million for the quarter  ended  September  30, 2003,  and a 20
percent increase in net income to a third-quarter record of $25.7 million, or 33
cents per diluted share.  In the comparable 2002 quarter,  the Company  reported
revenues  of $101.5  million  and net income of $21.4  million,  or 28 cents per
diluted share.

      For the first  nine  months of 2003,  the  Company  reported  a 20 percent
increase in revenues to a record $345.1  million,  and a 26 percent  increase in
net  income to a record  $77.7  million,  or $1.01 per  diluted  share.  For the
comparable  2002  period,  Gentex  reported  revenues of $287.9  million and net
income of $61.7 million, or 81 cents per diluted share.

      "We had another  very good  quarter and are on track to deliver  excellent
performance  for the rest of the year," said  Gentex  Executive  Vice  President
Garth Deur.  "During the third quarter,  we demonstrated our ability to grow our
auto-dimming  mirror business,  despite declines in light vehicle  production in
North America and Western Europe of about five percent each."

      Deur said that he  believes  the Company  will show  mirror unit  shipment
growth in the fourth quarter of approximately 15 to 20 percent compared with the
fourth quarter of 2002.

      "Achieving  that rate of growth in the fourth  quarter puts us on the path
to achieve a 15 percent growth rate in unit shipments for all of calendar 2003,"
said Deur.

      The Company utilizes the light vehicle production  forecasting services of
J.D.  Power  and  Associates,  and  its  current  forecasts  for  light  vehicle
production  for calendar  2003 are  approximately  16.0 million  units for North
America,  16.0  million  for  Western  Europe  and 20.3  million  units  for the
Asia/Pacific  region.  For the fourth quarter of 2003, J.D. Power is forecasting
light  vehicle  production of 4.0 million  units in North  America;  3.9 million
units in Western Europe; and 5.1 million units in the Asia/Pacific region.




      Automotive revenues increased by 11 percent to $107.0 million in the third
quarter  and by 21 percent to $328.1  million  for the first nine months of 2003
compared with the same periods last year. Fire Protection  revenues increased by
six percent to $5.9 million in the third  quarter and by three  percent to $17.0
million  for the first  nine  months of 2003  compared  with the same prior year
periods.

      Night Vision  Safety(TM)  (NVS(R))  Mirror unit  shipments to customers in
North America  increased by seven percent in the third quarter and by 10 percent
for the first nine months of 2003  compared  with the same 2002  periods.  North
American light vehicle  production  decreased by about five percent in the third
quarter and four  percent for the first nine  months of calendar  2003  compared
with the same periods last year.

      Unit shipments to offshore customers  increased by 19 percent in the third
quarter and 23 percent for the first nine months of 2003, compared with the same
periods last year.  The higher  growth in offshore  unit  shipments is primarily
attributable to increased  vehicle  penetration in the European and Asia-Pacific
regions.

      Total Night Vision  Safety(TM)  (NVS(R))  Mirror shipments in the third
quarter  were  approximately  2.5  million,  a  12  percent  increase  over  the
approximately  2.2 million units  reported in the same period last year. For the
first nine months of 2003, total unit shipments reached a record 7.5 million,  a
15 percent  increase over the 6.5 million  units  shipped  during the first nine
months of 2002.

      Certain  matters  discussed in this news  release,  including  growth rate
projections and estimates, are forward-looking  statements which involve certain
risks and  uncertainties,  and are  subject to change  based on various  market,
industry  and other  important  factors.  The Company  cautions  investors  that
numerous  factors (some of which are outlined in the  Company's  Form 10-K filed
with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  and other  interim  reports) and
future  events may affect the  Company's  actual  results,  and may cause  those
results  to  differ  materially  from  those  expressed  in this  news  release.
Furthermore,  Gentex  undertakes  no  obligation  to update,  amend,  or clarify
forward-looking  statements  whether  as a  result  of new  information,  future
events, or otherwise.

      A conference  call related to this news release will be simulcast  live on
the Internet  beginning at 1:30 p.m.  Eastern  Daylight  Savings Time today.  To
access that call, go to  www.gentex.com  and select  "Investor  Information" and
"Audio  Archives."  Other  conference  calls  hosted by the Company will also be
available at that site in the future.

      Gentex  Corporation  (The Nasdaq Stock Market:  GNTX) 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  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.  More than 95 percent of the Company's revenue
is derived from the sale of those products to the world automotive industry.

      Gentex was the first  company  in the world to  successfully  develop  and
produce a commercial automatic-dimming rearview mirror. After more than 15 years
of  supplying  these  products  in  the  highly  competitive  global  automotive
industry, the Company remains the leading supplier of these mirrors.  Gentex OEM
customers  include Acura,  Audi,  Bentley,  BMW,  DaimlerChrysler,  Fiat,  Ford,
General Motors,  Honda,  Hyundai,  Infiniti,  Isuzu, Kia Motors,  Lexus,  Mazda,
Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Renault Samsung, Rover, Rolls Royce, SsangYong Motors,
Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car Corporation.


                                       2


      Founded  in 1974,  Gentex has its  manufacturing  facilities  in  Zeeland,
Michigan,  and automotive  sales and engineering  offices in Detroit,  Michigan;
Germany,  Japan, the United Kingdom, France and Korea. The Company is recognized
for its quality products; for its proprietary manufacturing skills and equipment
and 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.


                                       3


                       GENTEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2003 2002 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Net Sales $ 112,878,954 $ 101,516,275 $ 345,104,850 $ 287,911,087 Costs and Expenses Cost of Goods Sold 65,793,563 60,820,878 201,621,876 172,959,610 Engineering, Research & Development 6,944,138 5,974,215 19,462,760 17,183,818 Selling, General & Administrative 5,693,743 5,142,636 17,310,739 15,426,934 Other Expense (Income) (3,597,615) (2,164,715) (8,370,527) (9,056,029) ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Total Costs and Expenses 74,833,829 69,773,014 230,024,848 196,514,333 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Income Before Provision for Income Taxes 38,045,125 31,743,261 115,080,002 91,396,754 Provision for Income Taxes 12,364,000 10,316,000 37,400,000 29,705,500 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Net Income $ 25,681,125 $ 21,427,261 $ 77,680,002 $ 61,691,254 ============= ============= ============= ============= Earnings Per Share Basic $0.34 $0.28 $1.02 $0.82 Diluted $0.33 $0.28 $1.01 $0.81 Weighted Average Shares: Basic 76,348,527 75,688,349 76,106,950 75,379,342 Diluted 77,568,861 76,585,241 77,067,148 76,521,515
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited) Sept. 30, Dec. 31, 2003 2002 ------------ ------------ ASSETS Cash and Short-Term Investments $385,726,313 $215,650,801 Other Current Assets 93,416,465 61,147,608 ------------ ------------ Total Current Assets 479,142,778 276,798,409 Plant and Equipment - Net 124,947,036 124,982,665 Long-Term Investments and Other Assets 119,094,265 207,391,593 ------------ ------------ Total Assets $723,184,079 $609,172,667 ============ ============ LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT Current Liabilities $ 47,407,935 $ 29,060,035 Long-Term Debt 0 0 Deferred Income Taxes 13,972,998 6,472,270 Shareholders' Investment 661,803,146 573,640,362 ------------ ------------ Total Liabilities & Shareholders' Investment $723,184,079 $609,172,667 ============ ============
4
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NVS MIRROR UNIT SHIPMENTS (Thousands) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Third Quarter Nine Months Ended Ended September 30, September 30, - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2003 2002 % Change 2003 2002 % Change - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Domestic Interior 913 843 8% 2,836 2,627 8% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Domestic Exterior 434 412 5% 1,293 1,143 13% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Domestic Units 1,348 1,256 7% 4,130 3,769 10% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foreign Interior 774 710 9% 2,378 2,047 16% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foreign Exterior 353 241 47% 1,036 723 43% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Foreign Units 1,127 951 19% 3,414 2,770 23% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Interior Mirrors 1,688 1,553 9% 5,215 4,674 12% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Exterior Mirrors 787 653 21% 2,329 1,866 25% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Mirror Units 2,475 2,206 12% 7,544 6,540 15% - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. Amounts may not total due to rounding. 5