Curry sausages produced at a factory of German car giant Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany, 21 April 2016. Photo: John McDougall / AFP
While Volkswagen’s car sales are showing a decline, the automotive giant is breaking records in an unexpected area: sausage sales. In 2024, the company sold 8.552 million sausages, which is 200,000 more than in 2023. This was reported by Marketscreener.
The famous VW Currywurst, a traditional German sausage delicacy with curry and ketchup, is firmly established as the company’s best-selling product. In 2024, the classic version sold 6.3 million units, while new varieties, including hot dogs, added another 2.18 million to the total.
It is worth noting that VW sausages are sold almost on a par with cars – last year, Volkswagen produced about 5.2 million cars, which is significantly less than the volume of sausages sold.
Volkswagen’s Chief HR Officer Gunnar Kilian confirmed that the company will not rest on its laurels: “We are already working on a new hit, the updated VW Currywurst.”
Interestingly, in 2021, the company tried to remove meat dishes from the menu of factory canteens, which caused a wave of criticism. In particular, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was outraged by the decision, calling currywurst a “worker’s energy bar”. Following the scandal, Volkswagen returned the traditional dish to the menu in 2023.
The branded sausages are produced in Volkswagen’s own meat factory and even have a serial number in the spare parts register – 199 398 500 A.
