Indian automaker Tata has confirmed it will rename its new small car Zica given its similarity to the Zika virus spreading across the globe.

The car was presented at the Auto Expo 2016 in Greater Noida, outside New Delhi, recently as the World Health Organisation declared a global health emergency following the latest Zika virus outbreak.

Zica – an abbreviation for Zippy Car – has been endorsed by Argentina and Barcelona football star Lionel Messi, who was named world player of the year 2015 at a FIFA gala in Zurich and claimed the Ballon d'Or trophy for the fifth time overall.

Sales and trends within the IDA environment for January 2016

Top 5 passenger vehicle sales per manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN
TOYOTA
FORD
NISSAN
BMW

Top 3 commercial vehicle sales per manufacturer
NP200 1.6 P/U S/C
RANGER 2.2TDCI XL P/U D/C
UTILITY 1.4 A/C P/U S/C

Top 10 derivatives sales
FIGO 1.4 AMBIENTE
NP200 1.6 P/U S/C
POLO 1.4 COMFORTLINE 5DR
POLO 1.6 COMFORTLINE 5DR
POLO GP 1.2 TSI COMFORTLINE (66KW)
RANGER 2.2TDCI XL P/U D/C
UTILITY 1.4 A/C P/U S/C
COROLLA 1.3 PROFESSIONAL
NP200 1.6 A/C SAFETY PACK P/U S/C
POLO VIVO 1.4 TRENDLINE 5Dr

The average age of vehicles sold in December was 4.10 years.