The former oil tycoon revealed as the villain in Pixar’s Cars 2 is Miles Axlerod.
Axlerod presents himself as a reformed businessman and the organizer of the World Grand Prix. He promotes Allinol, an alternative fuel that he claims can demonstrate the benefits of clean energy through the international race. Behind that public image, however, he is connected to the plot to discredit Allinol and cause chaos at the Grand Prix.
The story’s spy elements initially direct suspicion toward Professor Zündapp and the anonymous criminals using modified lemons. The reveal identifies Axlerod as the mastermind. His plan depends on electromagnetic weapons that make cars using Allinol malfunction, allowing the conspirators to profit from public fear of the fuel.
Miles Axlerod is voiced by Eddie Izzard in the English-language version. He is often confused with Professor Zündapp, who is the film’s principal scientific henchman, or with Acer, one of the lemon cars involved in the attacks. Those characters support the conspiracy but are not its leader.