Tata Has Accidentally Named Its New City Car After A Horrific Virus

We’ve seen questionable car names in the past with the Dodge Swinger, Daihatsu Charade and Ford Probe being three of the most embarrassing. But it appears that Indian automotive giant Tata Motors has managed to beat them all with the Zica. If that name seems recognisable to you, it’s probably because it’s very similar to Zika, the mosquito-borne pathogen linked to severe neurological problems and birth defects. Is this the most unfortunate name in the history of the automobile? We think so.

Ultimately Tata has been the victim of bad timing. The Indian automaker recently launched a huge marketing campaign for the small city car which, from as far as we can see, looked fairly successful. However, with the World Heath Organisation meeting today to discuss the danger of the similarly-named virus - Zika could lead to a global health emergency - Tata is searching for a new, more appropriate name.

In an interview with the Guardian, Minari Shah, Tata’s head of corporate communications outlined the current situation:

“The decision to name our car happened many months back when we could not have foreseen any of the recent events. In view of the recent developments, we are now evaluating the situation. We do not currently have a timeframe about when we will announce the decision.”

The Zica has been designed primarily for the Indian market and it looks like a cute little machine. Built to compete with cars such as the Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo, the Zica is a very important car in Tata’s line-up. Tata had planned to put the car on show at this week’s Auto Expo in New Delhi, but in light of the re-naming situation, it looks like the company will have to withdraw.

Hopefully Tata can come up with a new less unfortunate name quickly. Perhaps we can even help them out: what do you guys think it should be called? Let us know in the comments!

Source: The Guardian