Mater becomes Lightning McQueen’s best friend in Pixar’s Cars.
Mater is a rusty tow truck who lives in Radiator Springs. He first meets Lightning after Lightning is ordered to repair the town’s damaged road. Mater’s friendliness and enthusiasm gradually break through Lightning’s self-important attitude.
The two share several memorable activities, including tractor tipping and a nighttime drive through the countryside. Mater also introduces Lightning to the town’s residents and helps him understand the community’s history. Their friendship becomes one of the film’s main emotional developments.
Larry the Cable Guy voices Mater, whose name is a shortened form of “tomater,” reflecting the character’s comic wordplay. Mater appears in all three Cars feature films and has a major role in Cars 2, where he becomes involved in an international espionage adventure.