Abstract: A display unit carried in an exterior rearview mirror assembly having a generic display matrix displaying numbers, text and indicia interchangeably. A vehicle status sensor in communication with the display unit for providing vehicle status information for display, and a proximity sensor in communication with the display unit for providing object avoidance information for display in the form of a distance measurement between the vehicle and an object in the vehicle's path. A controller carried in the vehicle interior operatively associated with the display unit for selectively displaying object avoidance information or vehicle status information based on whether the vehicle is placed in a reverse gear. A display driver in communication with the controller causes the display unit to display the vehicle status information when the vehicle is not in a reverse gear, and to display the object avoidance information when the vehicle is place in a reverse gear.