In Pixar’s Cars 2, which villainous professor develops the lemon-car espionage plot?

Professor Zündapp develops the lemon-car espionage plot in Pixar’s Cars 2.

Zündapp is an inventor and a member of the criminal group working against the World Grand Prix. The group uses a device that causes cars running on Allinol alternative fuel to malfunction, intending to discredit the fuel and profit from the resulting chaos.

The character’s name and design reference the German Zündapp motorcycle company, which was founded in 1917. In English-language materials, his surname is commonly written with an umlaut as Zündapp, although simplified spellings may appear in some databases.

Zündapp is one of the film’s main antagonists, but Miles Axlerod is the larger mastermind behind the operation. Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell investigate the conspiracy while Mater becomes an accidental secret agent.