It was announced with a great deal of fanfare last year that an Asian company would build electric cars in Wayne County under the historic name Detroit Electric.

The company's electric car, which was an English shell with Asian electric motor and batteries, was met with back-patting and handshakes from local dignitaries. Yet there was nothing Detroit about it except the name.

At the time, I referred to the project as Grand Theft Auto, and it sure looks like it's been confirmed as the company is now setting up shop anew in the Netherlands.

I never thought that it would really do business in Detroit, so I wish that the U.S. trademark office could wrestle control of the Detroit Electric name from this Asian/European company.

I have no doubt that someone will eventually want to produce another real electric car in Detroit and should be able to use this name.

It was irritating at the launch, and even more so now, that an Asian company using a British car was going to use this name that just might have some value.

I would like to think that anyone who wants to use "Detroit" in his or her corporate or brand name should have some serious connection with the city and this community. It may not be required — but it should be.

I have no idea who is the keeper of brands in our city. I sure would not wish to dump this additional responsibility on our city officials; it is just another thing on a long list that should be someone else's responsibility. Perhaps the attorney general could take it as a pro bono service.

I was a bit outraged at these Detroit Electric folks who came into our city claiming all sorts of activities that obviously never came true. And now, not surprisingly, they skipped town. I have no idea what this community is supposed to do, except lament the theft of what was once a revered brand name.

I just hate to see this company get away with Grand Theft Auto.