Tata Zica Goes ‘Viral’ as Zika Virus Spreads Worldwide

The Tata Zica is going viral for all the wrong reasons as the Zika virus grips the world. Bad timing for Tata Motors?

Tata Zica. (Photo Courtesy: Motorscribes)

Tata would definitely have wanted their new hatchback, Zica, to go viral, just not the way it has. The car’s unfortunate namesake – the Zika virus – is being talked about worldwide.

The company will be launching their latest offering at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo, which begins in a few days.

Although Tata’s Zica is a mixture of the words “zippy” & “car”, neither of the two come to mind when the contraction ends up sounding like the deadly virus that has caught the world’s attention.

The mosquito-borne virus is growing around the world and more than 20 countries have been affected as of now. It leads to birth defects, including microcephaly – or abnormally small heads – in babies.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the virus is spreading “explosively”.

Is it too late for the automaker to change its name? According to Twitter users, the answer seems to be yes.