Indian automaker forced to rename 'Zica' car after virus outbreak

The emergency over the Zika virus has prompted India's Tata Motors to rebrand its latest zippy hatchback, which was to have been called "Zica".

Indian automobile maker Tata Motors has decided against naming its new small car Zica given its similarity to the Zika virus spreading across the globe Source: AAP

The Zika virus has hit India's Tata Motors, which has decided to rebrand a soon-to-be launched hatchback vehicle which was to have been called "Zica," an abbreviation of "Zippy Car".

The car is to be shown for the first time at the Auto Expo 2016 on New Delhi's outskirts on Wednesday.

Tata Motors has released a statement saying that the car will carry the "Zica" nameplate during the exhibition, but a new name will be announced in a few weeks.

According to the statement, the company has decided to rebrand the car to empathise with the hardships caused by the outbreak of the Zika virus in many countries.

The World Health Organization has declared the Zika virus a global emergency because of its explosive spread across the Americas.