The Automobile Club d'Italia (usually known by its acronym ACI) is a not-for-profit statutory corporation of the Italian Republic. The club originated through the efforts of Count Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia as the "Automobile Club of Turin" founded in Turin on 6 December 1898. It first became a national association in 1905 when it joined together with other local automotive clubs. In 1927 the corporate body was formed by royal decree, with the task of promoting and regulating the car sector and to represent car owners' interests in the country.