Cars was the first Pixar feature film to use the Cars characters.
Released in 2006, Cars introduced Lightning McQueen, Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson, and the residents of Radiator Springs. It was Pixar's seventh feature film and was directed by John Lasseter, with Joe Ranft serving as co-director before his death during production.
The film follows Lightning, an ambitious rookie race car who becomes stranded in the small Route 66 town while traveling to the Piston Cup finale. Its story combines racing with a community-focused road-movie structure.
Cars 2 followed in 2011 and expanded the setting into an international spy adventure. Cars 3 arrived in 2017 and returned to a more racing-centered story about Lightning's competition with Jackson Storm. The franchise also inspired short films, merchandise, theme-park attractions, and the spin-off film Planes, which was produced by DisneyToon Studios rather than Pixar.