The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Has a New Name

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

Oscar Mayer is synonymous with processed meats, especially hot dogs. Even so, the company has to go to great lengths to stay top of mind for consumers, and there’s no better way to do that than with a giant rolling hot dog on America’s highways. The Wienermobile, as it has long been known, spreads the beefy joy wherever it roams, though diehard fans will have a new name to learn going forward.


The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will now be known as the Frankmobile, which is disappointing on many levels. While the term is technically correct, it’s rare to hear people call hot dogs “Franks,” and it’s hard to imagine the rolling sausage changing that. Oscar Mayer has six vehicles to rewrap and rename, and the company said its rebranding efforts come as part of its “Keep It Oscar” turnaround campaign. 


The name change is unlikely to drive people away from their beloved hot dogs, but the timing of the renaming will drive even more interest in the brand ahead of Memorial Day and the summer grilling season. Keep your eyes peeled for the rebranded Wienermobile, and make sure you look out for other rolling mascots, including the L.L. Bean Bootmobile and the Planters nuts Nutmobile. 


[Image: Joshua Rainey Photography via Shutterstock]


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Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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  • Sgeffe Sgeffe on May 23, 2023

    What are they thinking?! Frankly, this sux! Whoever the idiot was that came up with this idea can’t cut the mustard, certainly!


    If I see one of these in the casing..FLESH..I’ll still call it the Wienermobile! I couldn’t relish the thought of calling it anything but!


    Hopefully the bad ratings for this decision will ketchup to the suits who made this decision! Or, though not as bad as the Bud Light people, they could find themselves in a pickle! Their buns might be toast! 😂

  • Namesakeone Namesakeone on May 23, 2023

    I imagine it's very difficult to drive the Frankmobile. Not everyone who applies can cut the mustard. The Oscar Mayer company really grills the applicants in the interview process. It's underpowered, so it's a challenge to ketchup to traffic. Also, if it has a heater, I'm sure it's inadequate, so in the winter it gets pretty chili, unless the manufacturer installed seat heaters to warm the driver's buns. But still, I don't mean to dog anyone who would aspire to drive the rolling hot dog; it's a job that anyone would relish.


  • Hans Hans on May 24, 2023

    About two months ago, the weinermobile was somewhere

    [Denver I believe] and they stole its cat converter. Yes, Oscar,

    got the weiner alright !

    • See 1 previous
    • Festiva Rob Festiva Rob on May 25, 2023

      What? I saw it in Maryland on my way cross-country. Didn't seem to be missing anything. (I was right by it 0_0 so, yeah.) Heard something rattling on it, but, why? I want to find out. Should be in New Jersey about now. But I'm just in a hotel in Nebraska. Leaving in 5 hours.


  • Darryl Darryl on Oct 10, 2023

    Yeah,and three months before that,it WAS somewhere else TOO! The prototype,ALL edible,was BRIEFLY at WOODSTOCK, we ate it W/ relish!!!!!!! (last of the food!)


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