Cars was Pixar's first Cars film released in theaters.
The original Cars premiered in 2006 and introduced Lightning McQueen, Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson and the community of Radiator Springs. Its story follows Lightning from a self-centered rookie racer to a competitor who understands friendship, history and sportsmanship.
Cars 2 followed in 2011, changing the emphasis to an international spy adventure involving Mater and Finn McMissile. Cars 3 arrived in 2017 and returned to Lightning's professional challenges as younger racers transformed the sport. These three films form Pixar's main Cars feature-film trilogy.
Planes is sometimes included in broader Cars-related discussions because it was made by Disneytoon Studios and shares a world of anthropomorphic vehicles. It was not the first Pixar Cars film, however. Pixar's Cars franchise also expanded into short films, television material and merchandise after the 2006 feature established its characters.