Mater becomes involved in an international spy mission in Pixar’s Cars 2.
In the sequel, Mater travels with Lightning McQueen to the World Grand Prix. After being mistaken for an American secret agent, he is drawn into an investigation involving Professor Zündapp, the mysterious Miles Axlerod, and a plot connected to the race’s alternative fuel.
Mater’s accidental espionage role drives much of Cars 2’s comedy. His lack of conventional spy training contrasts with the sophisticated equipment and agents around him, while his honesty and unusual perspective help him notice clues that others overlook.
Cars 2 shifts the franchise away from the small-town character story of the original and toward international action. The film visits locations including Tokyo, Porto Corsa, and London. Lightning remains important, but Mater is the character whose mistaken identity turns the racing trip into a spy adventure.