In Western Europe, the carmaker retailed 327,222 cars, equivalent to a 2.2 per cent rise.

In Eastern Europe, Skoda sold 95,032 units, pushing sales up by 34 per cent compared to the previous year.

In China the Czech carmaker sold 27,000 vehicles in the last six months of 2007.

The Octavia remains the bestselling model in the range.

Worldwide sales rose 18 per cent to an annual total of 237,422 units.