In Pixar's Cars 2, Mater becomes a secret agent.
Mater is an aging tow truck from Radiator Springs and Lightning McQueen's closest friend. During the World Grand Prix, he is mistaken for an American spy and is pulled into an international investigation involving secret agents, hidden identities, and a plot connected to the race's alternative fuel.
The misunderstanding drives much of the film's comedy. Mater's lack of sophistication, combined with his honesty and unusual observations, allows him to notice details that experienced agents overlook. He works alongside Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell, who are genuine British and American intelligence agents.
Cars 2 expands the series beyond the American road-trip setting of the first movie. Its races take place in locations including Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London. Lightning remains central to the story, but Mater's accidental espionage adventure is the film's main narrative engine, which is why the sequel feels more like a spy comedy than a traditional racing story.