In Pixar's Cars 2, who is revealed to be the villain behind the worldwide plot?

Miles Axlerod is revealed as the main villain behind the plot in Pixar's Cars 2.

Axlerod presents himself as a former oil tycoon who became the first car to circumnavigate the world. He organizes the World Grand Prix and promotes Allinol, a supposedly clean alternative fuel. Behind that public image, he uses the races and a weaponized form of Allinol to create chaos and discredit alternative fuel.

The film's espionage story initially directs suspicion toward Professor Zündapp and the lemons, including cars such as Acer and Grem. Axlerod's identity is revealed at the climax when he is exposed as the mastermind. Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell are spies investigating the conspiracy, not its leaders. Cars 2 is set largely outside Radiator Springs and expands the franchise into an international spy adventure.