Ricoh Announces Major restructure of Imaging Business...
There's some debate as to whether this will be limited to the Japanese market, but looks like you pre-order a camera body to your own specification then sit back and wait for it to be built. Not sure about how this could work with lenses.
For it to work globally they'd have to have build facilities in strategic locations. Would really impact SRS unless they could become such a facility, but I suspect builds will be part of repairs.
Then I saw the date of the announcement will be made: April 1st.
I wonder....
Z-1p, K-1, P50
F50 1.7. SMC-FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135

Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon
It would require re-engineering of the body to allow some flexibility but options could include physical things like sensor size and flip-screen.
Other things are a function of firmware like astro-tracer or video capability. Or simply processing power for fast autofocus which could be down to a chip change.
Given the capability of carriers like DHL or UPS it would be perfectly feasible to manufacture in one site and deliver world wide. Local businesses have been ordering custom printed circuit boards which have been delivered 72 hours after the design has been shipped to manufacturers in China.
Lenses are a different issue, in a way more like tyres on a car, not much change over time with a standard interface over many models of car.
So, going for a place at the Leica/Hasselblad end of the market?
SteveH!
Some people call me 'strange'.
I prefer 'unconventional'.
But I'm willing to compromise and accept 'eccentric'.
I'm not thinking of buying any new cameras this year, although one or two things have nearly pulled be in, so what I have is actually serving very well. When that changes, things may have settled and the options will be clearer.
Best regards, John

It certainly ties in with the rumour that there will be 6 different varieties of the K3iii as per this thread. It calls the bluff of those people who say "I'd have bought it if they had included X and not bothered with Y so I'm off to brand B" when a new model comes out. And it will make the second-hand market interesting!
I would hope (and expect) that SRS and similar would have a role, at least as a front end for orders and as part of the 'relationship chain' between users/potential customers and Ricoh. And while 'build to order' is the way I went for PCs a while ago, it ain't for everybody so there's still a place for some standard models (i.e. sets of options) on real shelves. Perhaps retailers could negotiate favourable prices from Ricoh for multiple copies of what they think will sell well in their market. So as a customer I would have the choice of a full-price camera that is exactly what I want and wait for it to be made or a cheaper version that isn't quite what I want and get it now. What a choice!
Steve
Things continue to get worse for all the high end camera manufacturers, whether their product be DSLR or mirrorless. Change is required and seems to be happening, but until we get clarity from Pentax we can only speculate what that change is.
I would be very surprised if the options available to a bespoke purchaser of a future Pentax camera would include things like sensor size/resolution, or flippy screen. These seem pretty much baked into the design of the body. But who knows. Car manufacturers for decades have offered extensive options on their products.
Peter
My Flickr page
Just passing thru
The announcement made by Ricoh Imaging Co., Ltd. on January 20, 2022 regarding a revamped approach to Ricoh’s digital camera manufacturing and distribution was specific to the local market in Japan only. “Ricoh/Pentax will not change its distribution structure in North America, and the company has significant plans and goals for the North America market this year that will utilize mass production of its products,” said Kazumichi Eguchi, President, Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation. “Customers in North America can continue to purchase Ricoh and Pentax cameras through our authorized dealers and directly via our website: https://us.ricoh-imaging.com/.
Guessing that applies to EU/UK as well.
. My Flickr
Privately owned and still run by the later family generations and operating in several towns and cities
The point is that I noticed the selection of choice on the shelf was gradually becoming hit and miss
I asked the attendant behind the counter regarding my concern that I have not seen my favorite marzipan pineapple slices for quite some months now, she responded “ oh but you can order them anytime you wish”
1stEverPentax
Member
Northwich, Cheshire
I'm sure will generate a fair bit of online chat.