Kyocera killing Contax

From dpreview.com:

Kyocera has today announced that it has decided to terminate the Contax
branded camera business. Contax joined forces with Yashica in the
1960s, which became part of the electronics giant Kyocera in the
mid-1990s. The history of the name goes back to the original Contax
camera produced by Zeiss Ikon AG in 1932. The company announced its
first 35mm SLR film camera, the Contax S, in 1949. A dark cloud has
been hanging over the Contax brand since Kyocera announced it was to
end of camera production last month.


Press Release:

CONTAX-Branded Camera Business

Kyocera Corporation (President: Yasuo Nishiguchi, hereafter called
"Kyocera") has decided to terminate CONTAX-branded camera business.

Although Carl Zeiss and Kyocera have entered into a long term
co-operation regarding the development, production and sale of
CONTAX-branded cameras, Kyocera has decided to terminate such business
due to difficulties in catching up with the recent rapid market
changes.

Consequently, Kyocera will terminate the shipment of CONTAX-branded
cameras, and the exclusive lenses and accessories in September, 2005,
except for the CONTAX 645 camera system, the shipment of which to some
markets will come to an end in December, 2005.

Kyocera will continue to provide after-sales services to its customers
for their CONTAX-branded cameras, and the exclusive lenses and
accessories over the maximum period of ten years within the specified
time of each model.