ML: Panasonic has a new way of naming cameras based on the continent where it is sold. Why such a decision?

Mark Babet: It’s to easily distinguish which model is in which country. From a warranty perspective, it reduces the customer service issues if somebody’s got something from the US in the UK for example. It lets us provide better customer service to our customers.

Pure chutzpah.

From warranty perspective Panasonic refuse to service your camera if you buy it outside your region, this is that it means.
Of course it is combined with usual cuts on service spending that all camera companies are doing lately.
It is made to put highest possible price for device for every region and prevent any sales or marketing programs to work outside region.

And actual reason for weird naming, from my own source, is to make people harder to find prices information for cameras sold outside your region.

Via (no other useful info): http://www.mirrorlessons.com/2016/09/27/interview-mark-baber-panasonic-gh5-g80-premium-compacts/