Santa Takes a Break with Mercedes-Benz

Following the success of 'Substitute,' Mercedes-Benz USA has launched 'PTO,' the conclusion to its Holiday Love campaign.

Created in partnership with Merkley+Partners, we follow Mr. and Mrs. Claus as they finally kick back to enjoy their well-earned post-holiday respite - until an 'unforgettable gift' brings them back to what the season is really about.

After Mrs. Claus heroically saved Christmas delivery, Santa and his partner deserve a break. The film opens on a scene of pure bliss: the Clauses lounging carefree, the holiday hustle behind them. But in a touching moment of realisation, they discover something precious left in their wake - a reminder that the true magic of giving a Mercedes-Benz isn't just in the delivery, it's in the memories it creates.

"'PTO' completes the story we started with 'Substitute,'" said Monique Harrison, head of brand marketing at Mercedes-Benz USA. "It's the emotional payoff we all feel after the Holidays - the moment when both Santa and Mrs. Claus realise that an unforgettable gift is about more than horsepower or prestige. It's about the joy it brings to the people you love and the moments you'll never forget."

The campaign reinforces the Mercedes-Benz Holiday Love core message: the unforgettable gift of a Mercedes-Benz lives on long after the wrapping paper is torn away.

Launched on December 26th, the campaign will be amplified by an organic social push featuring brand ambassadors, alongside paid media across TV, digital, and social. Both films anchor the third year of the Mercedes-Benz USA Holiday Love platform, a celebration of generosity, connection, and the timeless magic of the perfect gift.