Tow Mater, or simply Mater, is a character in the 2006 animated Pixar film Cars and its sequel as well as the spin-off series Mater’s Tall Tales. He is voiced by Larry the Cable Guy and inspired by a 1951 International Harvester tow truck. Originally portrayed as a sidekick and friend to the film’s main protagonist, Lightning McQueen, the popularity of the character eventually made him the central protagonist in Cars Toons: Mater’s Tall Tales and in other media related to Cars. His name comes from “tomater”, a slang term for tomato.
