25 September 1997: The US Donnelly Corporation has provided the new Volkswagen Golf with its Glarefree electrochromic mirrors, which dim automatically to reduce rear-view headlight glare during night-…
25 September 1997: The US Donnelly Corporation has provided the new Volkswagen Golf with its Glarefree electrochromic mirrors, which dim automatically to reduce rear-view headlight glare during night-time driving. While electrochromic mirrors have been offered on European luxury vehicles for some time, the Volkswagen Golf is the first compact car to offer the technology to drivers in Europe. “This is a very positive safety enhancement for the European auto industry,” said Dwane Baumgardner, Donnelly Chairman and CEO. “Donnelly has been working to reduce the cost of electrochromic mirrors and make this safety feature available to a broader range of consumers.” In addition to its automatic-dimming feature, the Glarefree mirror that Donnelly produces for the Volkswagen Golf is also designed to accommodate a rain sensor, which automatically activates the vehicle“s windshield wipers during bad weather. The electronics for the electrochromics and the rain sensor are all contained in the mirror assembly.