Volkswagen sold more sausages than vehicles in 2024 thanks to ‘international bestseller status’
Volkswagen sold more sausages than cars in 2024, setting a new record for its popular currywurst in a bizarre business announcement.
The German automotive giant sold an impressive 8.5 million sausages last year, compared to just 5.2 million vehicles.
This represents an increase of 200,000 sausage sales from 2023, which was the previous record year.
Gunnar Kilian, who oversees Volkswagen’s human resources department, celebrated the achievement on social media this week.
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“More than eight million Volkswagen original currywursts marks a new sales record for us,” he posted.
Kilian described the Volkswagen currywurst as “more than just a snack – it’s an icon” with “international bestseller status”.
Originally intended for workers in company canteens, the sausages are now sold to other companies and supermarkets across 12 countries.
In 2021, the company faced backlash after removing currywurst from one of its canteens to offer more meatless options.
Former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who served on Volkswagen’s board, protested the decision, calling the dish “a power bar for production workers”. It was added back to the menu in 2023.
The sausage is manufactured within the Wolfsburg Volkswagen Plant by a dedicated team of 30 people and have been produced since 1973.
The unusual achievement comes during a challenging period for the world’s second-largest carmaker.
Despite the sausage success, Volkswagen faced a difficult year financially. Profits after tax fell 30.4 per cent in 2024, even with a slight 0.7 per cent increase in total revenue.
VW’s struggles stem largely from its declining Chinese business, where deliveries fell to their lowest point in over a decade, prompting the brand to consider closing German factories for the first time in its history.
Chinese competitors like BYD have outflanked Volkswagen with cheaper electric models, although VW is aiming for revenue growth exceeding five per cent in 2025.
CEO Oliver Blume noted the company’s “transformation is gaining speed and traction”, with high hopes for its cheapest electric car, which is set to hit roads in 2027 for around £17,000.
Members of the executive board recently agreed to reduce their pay by 11 per cent for the next two years amid plans to slash 35,000 jobs in the coming years.
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A last-minute deal with labour representatives before Christmas extended job security through 2030, avoiding factory closures.
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The company acknowledged the “environment of political uncertainty” and “geopolitical tensions” as ongoing challenges.