General Motors OnStar Santa Tracker

Where you at, Santa?

General Motors is bringing back its OnStar Santa tracker with assistance from NORAD.

Today on Christmas Eve drivers with an OnStar subscription in the U.S., Canada and Mexico can keep track of Santa’s progress across the globe with a touch of the blue OnStar button.

“Each year we receive thousands of Santa-update requests,” said Stacey Unold, director of Contact Center Operations supporting Chevrolet. “It’s a fun way for Chevrolet owners to use technology to connect their families with important information about Santa’s journey and spread holiday cheer.”

The first 10,000 touches of that OnStar button to check on Santa will also result in GM donating to the American Red Cross.

Video | NORAD Tracks Santa Trailer Video

How it all started:

On Dec. 24, 1955, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, CO, received a call from a young child, who had dialed the wrong number, wanting to know Santa’s whereabouts. Col. Harry Shoup was in charge that night and directed his operators to find Santa’s location and report it to every child who called in. The crew enjoyed delighting children so much, it began a tradition that carried through when CONAD transitioned to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in 1958. Today, NORAD continues to locate and protect Santa Claus, thanks to satellite systems, high-powered radars and jets, as he makes his Yuletide journey. On Dec. 24, about 1,500 volunteers staff phones and computers to answer calls and emails from around the world.

For the last decade, OnStar has teamed up with NORAD and each Christmas Eve, OnStar Members and their families can push their blue OnStar button to learn Santa’s location as he journeys across the globe. OnStar Members with an active account can push their blue OnStar button between 6 a.m. EST Christmas Eve and 6 a.m. EST Christmas Day to find Santa and his reindeer. If you’re not in your vehicle, call (888) 466-7827 to check Santa’s progress.