Earlier this month, National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), a joint Chinese Japanese investment group, purchased the bankrupt Swedish Saab. But, and this is a big one, the purchase did not include the right to use the Saab name and badge.

Way back in 1990, GM purchased a 50 percent share of the SINGLE company that included Saab Autos, Saab AB and Scania. Saab AB and Scania were not part of the deal, and they’ve continued to use the name and logo. Now that a new company has come in and taken control of the automaker, Saab AB and Scania want to ensure their name and logo won’t be jeopardized by new owners.

So until all parties involved (NEVS, Saab AB and Scania) come to an agreement, NEVS will have to figure out contingency plans for naming the electric version of the Saab 9-3 they are scheduling for release in late 2013 or early 2014.

The National Electric Vehicle Sweden Electric 9-3 doesn’t have the same ring or ambiance of the Saab Electric 9-3. In all likelihood, this will be reconciled and NEVS will be able to retain the Saab name.

In other naming news, New York is back in the spotlight. A few weeks ago, the New York state legislature defeated a bill that would have allowed 40 installed cameras in New York City to measure speed and photograph license plates so the city could anonymously issue $100 speeding citations.

The defeat doesn’t eliminate the cameras, though, as the city is still allowed to install them (NYC just can’t collect the fines). So Mayor Bloomberg, always the trumpeter of progressive city action, has a different plan.

Shame.

Bloomberg suggested placing the names and pictures of the caught speedsters in a public place, on the off-chance a pedestrian can recognize the perpetrator and then spit and cuss at them to bring about public embarrassment.

All that visual real estate in Times Square on the digital billboards sure would be an interesting place to put a mug shot. Caption?

“I do speed.”