Products Made By Car Companies: Unexpected Creations

Automotive giants are renowned for their sleek vehicles and cutting-edge engineering, but many extend their expertise into entirely unrelated realms. These companies apply precision manufacturing, aerodynamic design, and material innovation to produce items ranging from sports equipment to household goods. This diversification not only boosts revenue but also hones skills transferable back to car production.

Diversification Strategies in the Auto Industry

Car manufacturers often venture beyond vehicles to sustain operations during economic downturns or capitalize on existing facilities. For instance, during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, firms repurposed assembly lines for medical devices. Ford collaborated with GE Healthcare to produce ventilators in Michigan, while its Dagenham plant in the UK assembled component boxes and screens for NHS units in record time—three weeks instead of a year. Such adaptability underscores how auto engineering supports broader societal needs.

Historical precedents abound. Peugeot began as a coffee grinder maker in 1840, predating its steam-powered vehicle by decades. This foundation in precision mechanics laid the groundwork for its automotive success. Similarly, Volkswagen’s food products trace back to 1973, with currywurst sausages sometimes outselling cars—6.81 million produced in 2018 alone.

Sports and Performance Gear from Racing Experts

Auto brands with motorsport pedigrees naturally gravitate toward athletic products. BMW’s involvement in winter sports exemplifies this: in 2012, it designed a two-man bobsled for the US Olympic team at the Sochi 2014 Games. The sled’s lightweight carbon-fiber construction and aerodynamic shape mirrored BMW’s vehicle design principles, contributing to competitive success.

Lotus, famed for lightweight sports cars, applies similar philosophies to bicycles. Its engineering division crafts high-performance bikes emphasizing weight reduction, advanced composites, and airflow optimization—echoing the brand’s four-wheeled heritage.

Even supercar makers experiment here. Lamborghini partnered with Babolat on pickleball paddles (BL002), fully designed in Barcelona with input from its engineers for enhanced durability and playability. McLaren, known for Formula 1 tech, collaborated with Bowers & Wilkins on Pi8s headphones, building on its in-car audio expertise.

Kitchen and Household Innovations

Precision engineering shines in everyday tools. Peugeot’s pepper and salt mills, iconic in France, evolved from its 1840 coffee grinders. These hand-cranked devices use durable mechanisms for consistent grinding, a nod to the company’s mechanical roots.

Volkswagen dominates with its currywurst sausages and ketchup, a staple at its factory canteens since 1973. In peak years like 2013-2015 and 2017, sausage production exceeded vehicle output, blending German culinary tradition with industrial scale.

BMW extends to cookware, leveraging material science for high-quality pots and pans. Porsche Design offers toiletries like deodorant, alongside pens, watches, and glasses, embodying luxury across categories.

Luxury and Lifestyle Extensions

Premium brands create high-end accessories. Aston Martin developed the AMR-C01-R racing simulator with Curv Racing, capturing its grand touring essence. Bugatti ventured into hookahs, blending opulent design with automotive flair.

Nissan innovated with autonomous office chairs, showcasing mobility tech in furniture. Honda offers autonomous lawnmowers alongside motorcycles, jets, and boat motors, diversifying its power products.

Maserati produced a custom polo saddle in 2014 with La Martina for its centenary, handmade in Argentina to celebrate global tours. Bentley and Ferrari explore similar luxury collabs, from surfboards (Tesla) to motion-sickness glasses (Citroën).

Tech and Gaming Ventures

Connectivity drives modern products. NIO launched a smartphone integrating with its EVs for seamless ownership. Audi created ‘AudiOpoly,’ a Monopoly variant swapping properties for models like the A3 Cabriolet and TT Roadster.

Ford’s N+ Bikes collaboration honors the Mustang’s 60th anniversary with performance e-bikes. These items fuse auto heritage with consumer tech.

• AudiOpoly: Replaces board elements with Audi products, retaining core rules.
• NIO Smartphone: Enhances EV connectivity.
• Nissan Chairs: Autonomous navigation for offices.

Crisis Response and Medical Contributions

Pandemics reveal versatility. Lamborghini produced masks, while Ford and others made respirators. International Harvester once built refrigerators for farmers, showing historical precedent.

Future Implications of Brand Diversification

These products refine manufacturing techniques, from composites in bobsleds to hygiene in sausages. They mitigate risks in cyclical auto markets and build brand loyalty through lifestyle integration. As electrification advances, expect more crossovers—like EV-inspired home batteries or AI gadgets.

Challenges include maintaining quality across lines and avoiding dilution of core identity. Yet successes like Volkswagen’s sausages prove viability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted car companies to make non-car products?

Initially for revenue diversification, later for skill-sharing and crisis response, like ventilators during COVID-19.

Which product outsold Volkswagen cars?

Currywurst sausages in several years, peaking at millions annually.

Do luxury brands focus on high-end items?

Yes, from Bugatti hookahs to Maserati saddles.

Are these products still available?

Many are, like Peugeot mills and VW sausages; others were limited editions.

How do these ventures benefit car production?

They advance materials, aerodynamics, and automation tech.