Cars introduced Mater as a tow truck named Tow Mater.
Mater is the rusty, friendly tow truck who lives in Radiator Springs and becomes Lightning McQueen’s closest friend. His name is a pun on “tow mater,” a casual pronunciation of “tow mater” or “tow-mater,” referring to his job as a tow vehicle. In the English version, Larry the Cable Guy provides his voice.
The original film presents Mater as cheerful, loyal, and unconcerned with status. He helps Lightning understand the town and introduces him to local traditions, including tractor tipping. Mater’s stories about his past are often exaggerated, but his honesty and affection for Lightning are genuine.
Cars 2 expands Mater’s role by making him central to the spy plot, while the series Cars on the Road follows Mater and Lightning on a road trip. Those later stories build on the character and name established in the first Cars film.