Skoda global 2010 sales hit record

* Skoda sells 762,500 vehicles worldwide, to double by 2018

* Overall Czech new car registrations dip a touch in 2010

* Czech car production passes 1 mln vehicle mark

(Incorporates Czech car sales, production)

By Jana Mlcochova and Roman Gazdik

PRAGUE, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG.DE) Czech unit Skoda Auto sold a record number of cars worldwide in 2010 and said it aimed to double sales by 2018.

The sales figures came as the Czech Car Importers Association said new car registrations stagnated in 2010, and another industry association estimated Czech car production passed the 1 million vehicle mark for the first time.

The automotive industry is a key driver for the Czech economy, which is expected to grow around 2 percent this year, according to finance ministry forecasts.

Skoda exports around 90 percent of its production and is seen as a bellwether for the economy of the central European state of 10.5 million people.

Skoda boosted its global sales by 11.5 percent year-on-year to 762,600 vehicles in 2010. It increased sales in all its markets, with the fastest growing seeing a rise of more than 40 percent, Skoda chairman Winfried Vahland said on Thursday.

The company did not break down 2010 sales, but it has seen strong growth in China and Russia.

Skoda, whose revenue is equivalent to about 5 percent of Czech gross domestic product, maintains the top spot in Czech market share, with about one in every three new cars a Skoda.

The Car Importers Association said on Thursday new car registrations in the Czech Republic dipped 0.2 percent in 2010 to 180,812 units, but might grow by up to 3 percent in 2011.

Passenger vehicles, which make up the vast majority of sales, were up 4.7 percent last year, the association said, while there was a 60 percent drop in light utility vehicle sales, prompted by corporate tax changes.

The Czech Automotive Industry Association estimated on Thursday that Czech car production rose 7.4 percent in 2010 to 1.039 million units. It expects growth of around 5 percent in 2011.

Besides Skoda, the country has two other plants run by Hyundai Motors (005380.KS) and a joint venture of Toyota Motor (7203.T) and PSA Peugeot Citroen (PEUP.PA).