Established in 1997, ECG is the Association of European Vehicle Logistics and represents around 100 leading vehicle logistics companies from 26 countries across Europe, including the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey. ECG Members provide transport, distribution, storage, preparation and post-production services to manufacturers, importers, car rental companies and vehicle leasing operators. Today ECG members have an aggregate direct turnover of around 22 billion euros and employ some 70,000 employees. They own or operate nearly 400 car carrying ships, almost 18,000 purpose-built railway wagons, 80 river barges and 18,000 specialist road transporters. The ECG Secretariat is based in Brussels and is run by an Executive Director. From the membership a President and Vice-President are elected and are supported by a Board consisting of members representing the geographical spread of the membership. The ECG President is elected for a term of two years, whilst Board members are elected every year. Established as a non-profit making organisation to promote the interests of the car carrier operators, ECG is now the established platform for the automotive logistics sector bringing together logistics service providers, manufacturer logistics managers and suppliers to the sector. While lobbying the main EU institutions to give a voice to the sector, on the industrial side ECG aim to facilitate non-commercial collaboration between member companies and assist them in sharing best practices in many operational areas, especially the harmonisation of operational standards. In co-operation with the KPMG, ECG has created the only existing Academy for higher education tailored and wholly dedicated to Finished Vehicle Logistics.