The
Automobile Club de l'Ouest (English: Automobile Club of the West), sometimes abbreviated to
ACO, is the largest
automotive group in
France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organising entity behind the annual
Le Mans 24 Hours race. The ACO also lobbies on behalf of French drivers on such issues as road building and maintenance, the availability of driving schools and road safety classes, and the incorporation of technical innovations into new vehicles. It also runs a
roadside assistance service for its members.