Volkswagen sold more sausages than vehicles in 2024 thanks to 'international bestseller status'

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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Volkswagen announced that it had sold more sausages than vehicles in 2024

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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.

Volkswagen sold more than five million vehicles last year

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A last-minute deal with labour representatives before Christmas extended job security through 2030, avoiding factory closures.

Further challenges loom on the horizon with President Trump threatening to impose tariffs on imports from Europe and Mexico.

The company acknowledged the "environment of political uncertainty" and "geopolitical tensions" as ongoing challenges.