Mater is the rusty tow truck who befriends Lightning McQueen in Pixar's Cars.
Mater lives in Radiator Springs and quickly becomes McQueen's closest friend. He is cheerful, loyal, and proud of his knowledge of the town, even though his storytelling often becomes exaggerated. His friendship helps McQueen understand the value of community and relationships beyond racing.
Larry the Cable Guy provides Mater's voice. The character's name is a shortened form of “tomater,” reflecting the film's playful use of automotive language and rural speech patterns. Mater's design was inspired by old tow trucks, especially the kind of working vehicle that might serve a small roadside town.
Mater later becomes the central character of the Cars Toons short-film series Mater's Tall Tales. He also plays a major supporting role in Cars 2 and Cars 3.