From The Beehive E101 - A taste of the future from Salzgitter

Join Mike from St. Thomas Economic Development and City of St. Thomas Mayor, Joe Preston, as they check in from Salzgitter, Germany—the global headquarters of PowerCo and home to one of Volkswagen’s major battery production plants.

In this episode, Mayor Preston reflects on the changes to the site since his last visit. From R&D labs to full-scale manufacturing floors, the visit provides a powerful glimpse into what’s to come for the future PowerCo plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. They discuss the massive scale of the operation, global logistics, and how the knowledge and technology being developed here will influence what’s built back home.

Plus, they even get a taste of VW culture—lunching on the famous VW Currywurst. We'd like to submit an order, please!

This isn’t just a tour—it’s a glimpse into the future of clean energy manufacturing in Canada. 

BONUS Feature: Volkswagen Currywurst isn’t just a quirky cafeteria item—it’s one of the brand’s most iconic (and surprisingly bestselling) products. First introduced in 1973, this spiced pork sausage is produced by VW at its Wolfsburg plant and has its own official Volkswagen part number. In some years, VW has produced more Currywurst than cars, with millions of sausages made annually and served in factories, sold in local shops, and even exported abroad. Often paired with house-made ketchup and fries, it’s a symbol of Volkswagen's unique company culture, where engineering precision meets traditional comfort food. It’s so beloved that some say Currywurst is the real fuel of the Volkswagen workforce.