Mater becomes the main undercover agent in Pixar's Cars 2.
The rusty tow truck is mistaken for an American spy after attending the World Grand Prix with Lightning McQueen. British agent Finn McMissile recruits him because his apparent clumsiness helps conceal his real actions from the villains.
Mater's role drives the film's spy-comedy plot. He investigates a plan involving the use of Allinol fuel and an electromagnetic pulse weapon, while McQueen initially misunderstands his behavior and grows frustrated with him.
Mater is voiced by Larry the Cable Guy and is one of the franchise's most prominent comic characters. In the first Cars, he is primarily McQueen's best friend and a resident of Radiator Springs. Cars 2 gives him much more screen time and makes him the story's accidental secret agent.