Tata Motors has announced its decision to change the name of its latest car, Zica, to another name yet to be made public owing to the similarity with the deadly virus, Zika.

The announcement, which is coming a few days to the launch of the small car, is already creating image problem for the new vehicle, according to a report on Tuesday by livemint.com. And this is expected to cost the Indian firm a lot of money.

“A name change means that the company will have to re-spin the wheel — get fresh certifications from Automotive Research Association of India (the government body, which tests and gives a stamp of approval on a new model before it hits the roads), rebuild the brand and delay the launch. It already had burnt substantial cash in creating the new brand and the new model — the first all new model, developed ground up after several years,” it stated.

Tata Motors signed the reigning world best footballer, Lionel Messi, as its global brand ambassador in November last year, according to a Business Standard report. It was followed by a massive digital and outdoor media blitz around the brand and Zica.



An anonymous reviewer, in a Yahoo Autos’ report, says, “In all seriousness, Tata Motors’ renaming its new Zica is a smart and considerate move. Will it be enough to prevent Clarkson, Hammond and May making fun of it on their upcoming Amazon Prime Show? Probably not.

The new car has the size of the Hyundai i10 and it sits between the cheaper Nano and bigger Bolt.

An online auto journal, Top Gear, in a review, says the vehicle is based on an all-new platform on which the designers have put together a smart-looking car.

It says, “The Zica is a fresh design with an unmistakable face. The large swept back headlamps and oversize mesh-type grille gives it a distinct front face.”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/zika-virus-forces-tata-to-change-car-name/

Eyah... Quite Unfortunate

na so