Mattel became the toy licensee for Disney’s Cars franchise when the first film was released in 2006.
Mattel produced die-cast vehicles, playsets, and other toys based on Lightning McQueen, Mater, and the wider Cars cast. The vehicle-centered nature of the film made it particularly well suited to a toy range built around collectible cars and racing play.
The first Cars film arrived in 2006 and quickly expanded from cinema into a large merchandise program. Mattel’s die-cast releases became especially recognizable because they reproduced the characters as small vehicle toys rather than conventional dolls or action figures.
Hasbro is a plausible alternative because it has held many Disney and major film licenses, while LEGO and Playmobil are prominent construction and playset brands. The question concerns the principal Cars toy relationship, not every later product made under a separate license.