Who is the main villain known as Professor Z in Pixar’s Cars 2?

Professor Z, the main villain in Pixar’s Cars 2, is Professor Zündapp.

Professor Zündapp is a German-designed compact car and a scientist who helps organize the film’s plot against the World Grand Prix. He works with Sir Miles Axlerod and uses an alternative fuel scheme as part of a broader plan to discredit an energy source and manipulate public opinion.

The character’s name is a reference to Zündapp, a German motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1917. Pixar gives him the nickname “Professor Z,” which is the form most characters use during the story.

Professor Zündapp is often confused with Miles Axlerod, who is the conspiracy’s public-facing figure and a major antagonist. Finn McMissile, by contrast, is a British spy who investigates the plot, while Francesco Bernoulli is Lightning’s racing rival rather than a villain.