Volkswagen sold more sausages than cars in 2015

The “currywurst” largely outperformed car sales which fell from 6.12 million to 5.82 million in 2015

The Volkswagen Currywurst has celebrated its 40th birthday in 2013 (Volkswagen)

If the Volkswagen emissions scandal hurt the company’s car sales, it has not affected the popularity of VW branded “currywurst”.

Germany’s biggest car manufacturer sold 7.3 million of its spicy sausage, nearly one million more than in 2014. The “currywurst” largely outperformed car sales which fell from 6.12 million to 5.82 million in 2015, a drop of 4.8 per cent, according to DPA, the German news agency.

As if making sausages wasn't enough, Volkswagen also makes its own ketchup, better enjoyed with the currywurst. This year ketchup production also reached record level of 608,208 kg up from 536,826 in 2014.

The sausages are sold in the car company’s canteen and factories but also in supermarket.

Volkswagen has had a turbulent year ever since environmental authorities in the US discovered the company has fitted its diesel cars with an emission cheating software.

A cross-party committee of 45 MEPs will spend 12 months examining how VW was able to rig emissions tests with so-called “defeat devices”. It will also look at whether the German car company was given political cover by the European Commission and national governments in the EU.

Up to 11 million VW diesel vehicles worldwide are thought to have been fitted with software to mask emissions.

Volkswagen has made also list of non-governmental organisations’ “most hated” brands in the UK for the first time in 2015. It is now the seventh least popular brand in the world, according to a survey of more than 7,5000 NGOs by Sigwatch, a consultancy.