DerbyBorn wrote:
What is it that tends to define the typical specification of cars imported
into a particular country?

Often there's a North America version and an ECE (Europe-ish) version.
There might be a Japanese version too (maybe all RHD are to Japanese spec).
They address features that are incompatible between the two regimes - eg the
headlight arrangement.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_..._Regulatio ns

Some countries I have been to do not seem to have reversing sensors over a
time when they have become commonplace in the UK.

Cruise Control whilst unusual in the UK is very common across all classes
of car in other countries.

I suppose other additions like GPS / SatNav are a bit country specific.

I can see how an Importer of one brand would make a decision, but this
seems to go across brands.

Those are presumably options to the base spec: the vehicle is the same, with
parts commonality within a region (NA/ECE/Japan). It is just than the
national subsidiary of the manufacturer or importer decides to promote some
factory options over others. They take a view on what will sell and what
won't. No point fitting satnav if there aren't maps for your country, or
importing black cars to the Middle East. Many of those market decisions
will be similar across manufacturers.

Theo