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Volkswagen's crisis has taken an unexpected turn! The iconic automaker has sold more sausages than cars, revealing an alarming scenario for the German automotive industry.
A Volkswagen, a giant in the automotive sector, achieved an unusual record: sold more sausages than cars last year, according to the website The Times.
While the company delivered 5,2 million vehicles with its logo, the number of currywurst sold reached 8,5 million units.
This curious fact reveals both the popularity of the iconic German snack and the challenges faced by the automobile industry.
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Volkswagen's currywurst: a phenomenon in Germany
Currywurst is a typical German street dish, consisting of a sausage seasoned with special ketchup and curry, usually accompanied by French fries.
But the connection between the dish and Volkswagen goes far beyond popular consumption: the company has been producing its own sausage since 1973.
The snack has become a true icon in the company's workers' cafeterias, something comparable to the classic meatballs sold in the Ikea restaurant.
The success was so great that Volkswagen started selling its sausages in supermarkets., expanding distribution beyond internal cafeterias.
By 2024, currywurst sales reached a growth of around 200 thousand units compared to the previous year, consolidating the product’s position in the food market.
Volkswagen's food line still includes hot dogs, which also contributed to the sales record.
The crisis in the German automotive sector
Despite its success in the food industry, Volkswagen is facing a challenging phase in car sales.
The group recorded a 2,3% drop in the total volume of vehicles sold, considering all the brands under its control, such as Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, SEAT and Škoda. Even with this number added together, the company delivered only 9 million units.
The situation is made worse by the drastic 30% drop in the automaker's profits.
In 2024, Volkswagen made a profit of 12,4 billion euros, a considerably lower figure than in previous years, even with a total turnover of 345 billion euros.
The main factors for this decline include the retraction in the Chinese market and heavy investments, such as the construction of a new Audi factory in Brussels.
German automotive industry faces strong competition in electric vehicles, especially from Chinese and American automakers, which puts even more pressure on Volkswagen.
Job cuts and tensions in the company
The crisis also led Volkswagen to make controversial decisions.
The automaker announced that it will eliminate 35 jobs in Germany by 2030., marking the first major mass layoff in its history.
The measure sparked outrage among workers and politicians, who criticized the company's strategy.
Despite the difficulties, employees who have a collective agreement will still receive a bonus of 4.800 euros each, benefiting around 120 employees in Germany.
The executives, as reported by the dpa agency, agreed to give up 11% of their income over the next two years.
Sausage is untouchable: the currywurst controversy
As the company faces challenges in the automotive sector, the currywurst remains untouchable.
The sausage's popularity within Volkswagen is so great that, in 2021, when the company decided to remove it from one of its cafeterias, the reaction was explosive.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder publicly criticized the decision, stating that “currywurst is the worker's chocolate for strength”.
Due to the negative repercussions, the automaker went back on its decision and kept the sausage on its menu.
To further strengthen the market, Volkswagen plans to launch new varieties of currywurst in supermarkets and cafeterias, mainly in Lower Saxony, where its headquarters are located in Wolfsburg.
The currywurst even has a serial number
One of the most curious facts about the Volkswagen sausage is that it has an official production number, just like the parts of a car.
The registered code of the currywurst manufactured by the company is 199 398 500 A..
This detail reinforces Volkswagen's commitment to product quality, which has already become a symbol of the company's culture.
Even in the face of economic challenges and cutbacks in the auto industry, Volkswagen's currywurst remains one of the brand's best-selling items, gaining space on the shelves and in the taste of consumers.
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