PRAGUE (AFP) - Skoda Auto, a subsidiary of the German Volkswagen group and the biggest car producer in the Czech Republic, reported an 18.5-percent surge in first quarter sales.

Skoda said that sales had totalled 129,778 vehicles, a rise of 18.5 percent on a 12-month comparison.

Sales increased across the board for all three models compared with figures for the first quarter of 2005, the company added.

Sales of the bottom-of-the-range Fabia climbed by 7.2 percent, of the mid-range Octavia by 31.7 percent and of the top of the range Superb by 14.7 percent, it added.

"Skoda Auto is therefore heading for record full year sales," the company said.

Sales increased in all key markets compared with figures 12 months earlier, Skoda Auto said.

In Western Europe sales rose by 17.9 percent with 74,723 vehicles sold. In central and eastern Europe the rise was 10.8 percent to 44,181 vehicles. In Asia, Africa and other overseas markets, sales rose by 73.8 percent to 10,874 vehicles.