Spotlight: Placer’s perfect locations for car commercials

Aug 22, 2024


Notable Placer County locations featured in RAM, Chevy and Toyota commercials

No matter the season, Placer County is home to beautiful, rugged terrains that attract the eye of commercial location scouts throughout the nation.

In the last 12 months, Toyota, Chevy, RAM and Nikola have all filmed vehicle commercials and used Placer as a backdrop. From the fresh-powdered Tahoe mountains to the iconic Foresthill Bridge, these productions notably featured unique locations only found in Placer County. 

This past year, Toyota and Chevy set up shoots within Placer’s iconic mountain ranges to showcase their 2023 truck and SUV releases. Toyota partnered with and filmed at Palisades Tahoe in North Lake Tahoe last winter to announce their official vehicle sponsorship of the ski resort. Olympic skier Jonny Moseley starred in the production as crews followed him on the Palisades Tahoe mountains.

Meanwhile, Chevy utilized the rugged landscapes of White Wolf in the summer to showcase their new ZR2 family of trucks and their off-road capabilities. 


The ZR2 commercials also highlighted the Class IV and V rapids along the North American River and displayed numerous kayakers paddling near the iconic Tunnel Chute. 

FORESTHILL BRIDGE

As one of Placer County’s most memorable bridges, you may recognize the Foresthill Bridge from the death-defying parachute jump featuring actor Vin Diesel in the 2002 film, “XXX.” But more recently RAM and Nikola utilized the bridge in a different way. 

RAM featured parts of downtown Auburn, Foresthill and Newcastle in their most recent 2025 truck commercials. The series features chef and restaurateur Darian Bryan, as well as voice over from Hollywood actor Glen Powell.  

 

Nikola also selected Placer County’s Foresthill Bridge to showcase their new zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell trucks (:48) in a commercial released last year.

 

Lastly, RAM continued its 2025 1500 series with a shoot in Newcastle featuring young motocross champion Jaydin Smart.

 

Placer is home to many notable locations and offers a unique location library for scouts to find the best possible production spots here.

If you have any questions, or are unsure what type of permit you may need, contact us.

 

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