that's true, you've got the pay for the name, marketing, branding, bonuses of the exec, etc... but does it make sense to say that if the production costs is lower, the savings could be carried forward to the consumers? maybe, the currency could be another mitigating factor? or just the simple fact that shipping (cif) would be cheaper?
unless they're manufactured in thailand, shipped to japan for qc then to a european country to be re-exported worldwide based on the euro. i doubt it. doesn't make sense to me, but you could be right.
OR, this could be just a strategic move for nikon to take back their lost market share from canon.
