What year did Pixar's first Cars movie premiere?

Pixar's first Cars movie premiered in 2006.

Cars had its world premiere on May 26, 2006, at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, before its wide theatrical release on June 9, 2006. The choice of venue reflected the film's focus on American stock-car racing and motorsport culture.

The movie was Pixar's seventh feature film and was directed by John Lasseter and Joe Ranft. It introduced Lightning McQueen, Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson, and the fictional town of Radiator Springs. The story combines a road adventure with themes of friendship, humility, and preserving local history.

Cars became a major franchise with sequels in 2011 and 2017, plus short films, merchandise, attractions, and the 2022 series Cars on the Road. Its premiere year is sometimes confused with the year Cars 2 or Cars 3 appeared, but the original film is specifically the 2006 release.