- This topic is empty.
-
-
When you think of Volkswagen, you probably picture sleek German engineering and cars built for the autobahn. But did you know that VW’s best-selling product isn’t a car at all? It’s a sausage.
Yes, you read that right. In 2024, Volkswagen sold 8.5 million of its in-house-produced sausages, surpassing its own vehicle shipments, which totaled 5.2 million. That’s not the kind of cylinder you’d expect from an automaker, but it’s a part of VW’s history—one that goes all the way back to 1973 when the company first started serving currywurst to workers at its Wolfsburg headquarters.
From Factory Fuel to Fan Favorite
Originally meant as a hearty meal for factory employees, Volkswagen’s signature sausage quickly became a German staple. It even has its own official VW part number—199 398 500 A (though we’re pretty sure it doesn’t require motor oil). Today, these sausages have gone beyond the factory floor and are now enjoyed in stadiums, supermarkets, and corporate cafeterias across 12 countries. And if that wasn’t enough, VW also sold 654,000 bottles of its signature spiced ketchup last year to go with it.
A Changing Industry with a Side of Sausage
While the sausage business is booming, VW’s core business—cars—is facing challenges. The company’s net profit dropped 30% last year, largely due to a slowdown in China, where local EV makers are dominating with cheaper, tech-packed alternatives. In response, Volkswagen is planning to cut up to 35,000 jobs and halve its production capacity in Germany by 2030.
This shift hasn’t gone unnoticed. The IG Metall Union, which represents VW employees, recently highlighted the irony of sausage sales thriving while auto sales struggle. And it’s not the first time VW’s sausages have sparked controversy. In 2021, the company tried to replace its pork sausages with a vegetarian version at its Wolfsburg canteen. The backlash was so strong—even from former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder—that Volkswagen reversed the decision.
Beyond Cars (and Sausages)
Volkswagen isn’t the only company to turn an internal product into a mass-market success. Slack started as an internal messaging tool before becoming the go-to workplace chat app. Amazon Web Services was originally created to help Amazon manage its e-commerce data before evolving into a multi-billion-dollar cloud computing business.
However, unlike software, sausages aren’t exactly a game-changer for a company with over $350 billion in revenue. But VW may have other ways to stay relevant. Recently, the company announced that it’s considering converting two of its shuttered auto plants into arms manufacturing facilities to tap into Germany’s increasing defense spending.
For now, though, one thing is clear—while VW cars may be struggling, its sausages remain the real driving force behind the brand.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.