NORAD partnership provides location information for subscribers; Santa’s sleigh gets fitted with OnStar technology
DETROIT –Santa Claus is getting a technology upgrade this Christmas season. This Christmas Eve for the first time, OnStar subscribers will have the ability to follow Santa’s journey around the world using their OnStar system thanks to a new partnership with The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Starting at 6:00 a.m. EST on December 24, drivers with an active OnStar subscription will be able to press the blue OnStar button in their vehicles and request a “Santa Update.” From there, an OnStar advisor will share Santa’s whereabouts based on location information provided by NORAD. The advisors will receive a new update from NORAD every hour and will be able to inform subscribers of Santa’s location through 5 a.m. EST on December 25.
“We are honored to help the world’s busiest traveler find his way this holiday season,” said Scott Kubicki, Vice President OnStar Service Delivery. “We know with our core suite of services, Santa’s travels will be much easier.”
For more than 50 years NORAD has used its GPS technology to monitor Santa’s whereabouts and share this information with children and families around the world. This year, OnStar will be sharing that location information through its advisors and links to the NORAD website from onstar.com, onstarconnections.com and facebook.com/onstar.
Santa will also be enjoying the safety and security of OnStar in his sleigh this Christmas. St. Nick recently paid a visit to the OnStar Command Center to pick up his newly outfitted sleigh and learn about the real services the company offers subscribers and the custom services OnStar created just for him.
Santa’s custom fictional services include: Reindeer Health Diagnostics to keep him abreast of the reindeers’ hunger and energy levels, Hands-Free Calling to allow him to keep his hands on the reigns and eyes-on-the-sky and Turn-By-Turn Navigation directions to help route him to the homes of the good little boys and girls around the world.