Batman On Star Commercials - The Ads

The Ads

Following on from OnStar's earliest TV ads playing on childhood fears and out-of-car personal testimonials, the company licenced Batman to market its "year 2000 factory-installed version," in the "world's most technological car," referring to the Batmobile. OnStar marketer Michael McEnaney described the premise as demonstrating that:

"if OnStar empowers Batman, consumers will get that OnStar can help them 'handle anything that life throws at them.'"

The ads demonstrated "examples of possible driving dangers, while remaining in the realm of fantasy," thereby downplaying the "scary side of danger," as well as making the spots "vehicle-neutral at a time when OnStar became available on 29 different GM models."

The six commercials are as follows:

1. "Batcave" (AKA "Batman & Alfred") - Alfred, Batman's butler, introduces him to OnStar, saying that the addition will increase safety in the Batmobile.
2. "Joker Face" - Batman chases the Joker through the streets of Gotham. Joker pushes a button to erect a barricade that Batman collides with, deploying his airbag. He instructs the OnStar representative to get the police to set up a roadblock, and catches him.
3. "Minor Setbacks" (AKA "Batman Uses OnStar") - Batman calls OnStar to unlock his door and to find the closest gasoline station.
4. "Batmobile" (AKA "Batman & Gordon") - Batman uses OnStar to call Commissioner Gordon to tell him he is coming.
5. "Hot Date" - The Penguin is chasing Batman, so Batman uses OnStar to call Vicki Vale to tell her that that he will be late.
6. "Riddle Me This" (AKA "Riddler") - Batman accesses his mail through the OnStar Virtual Advisor. The computer reads aloud the message that the villain the Riddler has sent: "What do a river and money have in common?" Batman deduces that the Riddler is heading to Gotham Bank and catches him.