Miles Axlerod secretly leads the villainous plot in Pixar’s Cars 2.
Axlerod is introduced as the organizer of the World Grand Prix and presents the event as a celebration of alternative fuel. Later, the film reveals that he is behind the conspiracy involving Allinol, a fuel promoted to the competing racers. The scheme uses electromagnetic pulse devices to cause violent engine failures and discredit alternative fuel.
He is described as a former oil baron who converted himself into an electric vehicle. That public transformation helps him appear sympathetic to the film’s environmental and technological message while concealing his real motives. The revelation is part of the movie’s spy-thriller structure and explains why several agents are investigating the race.
Viewers sometimes select Professor Zündapp because he is the most visible technical villain, but Zündapp is Axlerod’s associate. Finn McMissile is an intelligence agent, and Rod Redline is an American agent caught in the conspiracy. Axlerod is the person orchestrating the larger plan.