SKODA is celebrating the production of its one millionth third-generation Octavia.

The landmark Octavia ran off the assembly line at Skoda's main factory in Mlada Boleslav and since the model was introduced in 1996, the Czech car maker has produced five million Octavias in total.

Skoda says the Octavia is its most successful model ever and is now considered as the "heart of the brand".

Skoda puts its success down to the choice of models available from hatchback to estate and offering front-wheel and all-wheel drive plus the option of the Octavia RS which is fastest series-produced Octavia of all time.

Also boosting sales elsewhere in Europe is the Octavia G-TEC with a natural gas drive and the Octavia Scout, a four-wheel-drive all-rounder with off-road qualities.

In recent years the Octavia has received more than 50 international awards. The model has also won in numerous comparison tests.

In 2015 432,300 vehicles from the Octavia model series were sold around the world - 11 per cent more than in 2014.