The series follows Lightning McQueen and his best friend Mater on a cross-country road trip across the United States as they journey eastward to attend a wedding for Mater’s sister. It is set in a world filled with anthropomorphic talking cars and other vehicles. The episodes will depict characters in different scenarios, for example, them being chased by dinosaur-like cars. It will be set in new locations with new characters, including their new friend Ivy, a monster truck who travels with them, and featuring returns of the already established characters from the franchise.[1]
On December 10, 2020, Pixar announced on Disney Investors Day that an animated series starring Lightning McQueen and Mater traveling the country while meeting friends, new and old, was in development and that it will be released on Disney+ in the fall of 2022. It announced that the series is written by Steve Purcell and produced by Marc Sondheimer.[1][6] Purcell will also direct episodes for the series, with Bobby Podesta and Cars 3 director Brian Fee also directing.[4] On June 2, 2021, it was reported that characters from the Cars spin-off films Planes and Planes: Fire & Rescue will appear in the series.[7] On November 12, 2021, it was announced that the series would be titled Cars on the Road and that Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy would reprise their respective roles as Lightning McQueen and Mater.[8] Following the trailer's release, it was revealed Jake Monaco composed the score for all 9 episodes.[4]
