Kerala’s Mohammed Ziyad Becomes India’s First Skoda Kylaq Owner Even Before Compact SUV’s Launch
Meet Mohammed Ziyad, a Quran teacher from Kasargod, Kerala, who has achieved something most car enthusiasts could only dream of—he won a Skoda Kylaq even before its official market launch. Ziyad, an English graduate from the University of Calicut, submitted the winning name in Skoda’s nationwide contest to name their upcoming sub-four-meter SUV for India. He will be the first owner of the Skoda Kylaq when it is launched next year. Along with this, ten other winners will be awarded trips to Skoda’s headquarters in Prague.
How All Of This Happened
Skoda announced a contest earlier this year, giving the public the opportunity to name their newest SUV. The contest guidelines required that the name should begin with a “K” and end with a “Q.” Despite his modest lifestyle and lack of a personal car, Ziyad decided to take a chance and participate. “I don’t have a car craze. I just wanted to own a car, but my family’s situation is not good enough to buy one,” he explained.
After pondering over potential names for a few days, Ziyad settled on “Kylaq” and submitted it as his entry. His background, which includes seven years of Islamic education at Al Marjan Institute for Hafazath al Quran in Malappuram and a one-year Islamic degree from Jamia Yamaniyya Arabic College in Kuttikatoor, Kozhikode, didn’t deter him from embracing this creative opportunity.
In February, Skoda revealed eight shortlisted names for public voting: Kwiq, Kylaq, Kosmiq, Kyroq, Kariq, Karmiq, Kliq, and Kayaq. After tallying the votes, five names were selected as finalists: Kwiq, Kylaq, Kosmiq, Kliq, and Kayaq. Last week, Ziyad received a call from Skoda India, informing him that his submission had been chosen. “Why? You can’t believe it?” the executive teased him over the phone before directing him to check the Skoda India Instagram account. To his amazement, Ziyad saw his name—Mohammed Ziyad, Kerala—officially recognized as the winner.
Skoda’s Instagram post read “Congratulations to Mr. Mohammed Ziyad from Kerala for winning the all-new #SkodaKylaq. He will be the first owner when it is launched next year.”
Skoda’s Upcoming Sub-4 Meter SUV: The Kylaq
The Skoda Kylaq will target the sub compact SUV market in India, competing directly with the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It will be built on the MQB A0 IN modular platform, which also underpins the Kushaq and the Slavia. Skoda Kylaq will be powered by the 1.0 TSI petrol engine and is expected to be offered with both manual and automatic transmission options. Although the manufacturer has not yet revealed the final design of the Kylaq, several sketches and speculative renders have been circulating, hinting at its possible look.
Further rumours suggest that Volkswagen may also introduce a rebadged version of the Kylaq for global markets, though official confirmation on this is still pending. If these plans come to fruition, VW’s iteration of the Kylaq will likely feature a new visual identity, differentiating itself from Skoda’s version (and even from VW models like the Taigun) while sharing the same platform and mechanical components.
Ziyad’s win not only brings him the thrill of owning a brand-new car, but also highlights how creativity and seizing opportunities can lead to unexpected rewards. His journey from a Quran teacher in Kerala to the first owner of the Skoda Kylaq in India, is a remarkable testament to how life-changing a single opportunity can be.