ECF COTARD

What ECF COTARD does

ECF COTARD is a member agency of Association ECF (École de Conduite Française), the largest generalist network of driving schools and professional training centers in France. Founded around 1968-1970 under association loi 1901 law and headquartered in Marseille, the parent network operates 750 independently owned agency locations nationwide, trains roughly 250,000 people annually, and counts approximately 150 entrepreneur-members within its association. ECF COTARD itself, located in Le Grand-Quevilly (Normandy), is one such agency, benefiting from the collective brand and shared infrastructure of the federation. Member agencies commercially, legally, and socially retain independence while leveraging shared branding, marketing, and operational tools.

The federation operates two complementary divisions. The Grand Public division covers individual driving licenses for cars (Permis B manual and automatic, conduite accompagnée from age 15, supervised driving), motorcycles (Permis AM, A1, A2), boats (côtier, hauturier, eaux intérieures, VHF), and trailers/RVs (B96, BE, C1, C1E), plus road code preparation, cycling training, and points-recovery seminars. The ECF PRO division delivers B2B professional training across transport and logistics (FIMO, FCO, Permis C), construction safety (CACES R482/R486/R487/R489, AIPR), and instructor development (TP ECSR, FMESR, CQP RUESRC). Core technology includes the Web Formation e-learning platform, the My ECF and My ECF PRO student portals, the ECF PRO enterprise client portal, and the TGD (The Good Drive) proprietary driving simulator launched in 2023 with a 49-inch curved screen, 15 modules, and 55 scenarios covering 150 km of virtual roads.

ECF generates revenue through per-learner course fees, per-session training charges, and all-inclusive Permis B packages billed through 750 agencies and the ecf.asso.fr e-commerce site (payment via Payline). Point-recovery seminars are individually charged, and ECF PRO contracts are billed per trainee or per session to corporate clients with dedicated account management. Pricing is not publicly disclosed at the package level; only the €30 fixed road-code exam fee is referenced. Marketing combines the ecf.asso.fr content hub, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), the Motoday regional motorcycle events co-branded with Honda, Shell, Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, and Motoblouz, and organic network referrals. Partnerships with La Branche des Services de l'Automobile (OPCO) under the Compétences Emplois device, the ANTS government interface, Novius SAS (web host), and Payline round out the commercial stack. Patrick Mirouse serves as President of Association ECF.

Name

ECF COTARD

Legal name

Association ECF

Website

https://ecf.asso.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ECF COTARD is a member agency of Association ECF, the largest French network of 750 driving schools and professional training centers, training around 250,000 people annually across consumer driver education (cars, motorcycles, boats, trailers) and B2B workforce certification in transport, logistics, and construction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Grand-Quevilly, Normandy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Driving School Services (Grand Public): Revenue from individual consumers paying for driving lessons (Permis B), code/theory courses, motorcycle licenses, boat licenses, trailer/specialty permits, and post-permit training. Income is generated per lesson, per course, or via all-inclusive training packages. Consumers pay directly in agency or via the e-commerce website by credit card.
2. Professional Training (ECF PRO): Revenue from companies and organizations paying for professional driver training (FIMO, FCO, CACES, truck/bus licenses), logistics and lifting certifications, BTP safety training, and road safety awareness programs. Billed per trainee or per session; enterprise clients receive dedicated account management and access to the ECF PRO client portal.
3. Point Recovery Courses (Stage de récupération de points): Revenue from drivers who have lost points on their license and pay for a 2-day awareness/sensitivity seminar to recover up to 4 points. Each session is individually charged.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ECF operates a network of 750 independently owned driving school and professional training center agencies across France, providing car, motorcycle, boat, and trailer license education for individuals, as well as vocational driver and safety training (transport, logistics, BTP) for businesses. The company also offers a proprietary TGD driving simulator, digital learning platforms (My ECF, My ECF PRO), and points-recovery courses for licensed drivers.

Product overview

ECF (École de Conduite Française) is a network of 750 independent driving schools and professional training centers across France, founded 55 years ago and training 250,000 people annually. The company operates two main divisions: (1) ECF Auto-École for individual driving education offering Permis B car licenses (manual and automatic), motorcycle permits (A1, A2, AM), boat licenses (côtier, hauturier, inland), trailer/RV permits (B96, BE, C1, C1E), driving theory (Code), and supervised driving programs; and (2) ECF Formation Professionnelle providing B2B professional training in transport/logistics, construction (BTP), workplace safety, and driving instructor development. Key digital platforms include My ECF (student learning portal), My ECF PRO (professional training portal), and ECF PRO Espace Client (business client management). The network also developed TGD (The Good Drive), a proprietary driving simulator with 15 modules and 55 driving scenarios. ECF organizes regional motorcycle events under the MOTODAY program and offers points recovery courses through approved centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECF PRO: Professional training division of ECF offering vocational training for businesses including transport, logistics, BTP, safety, and driving school professions.
• My ECF
• My ECF PRO
• TGD (The Good Drive)
• ECF MOTODAY

Products and services

• ECF Auto-École (Driving Schools) Network of 750 driving school agencies offering car (Permis B manual/automatic, accompanied and supervised driving), motorcycle (A1, A2, AM), boat (côtier, hauturier, inland), trailer/RV (B96, BE, C1, C1E), and driving theory (Code) instruction for individuals seeking permits.
• ECF Formation Professionnelle (ECF PRO) Professional training division offering accredited courses in transport and logistics (FIMO, FCO, Permis C), warehouse and lifting certifications (CACES R489, R486), construction equipment (CACES R482, R487), BTP safety, road risk prevention, and driving instructor development (TP ECSR, FMESR, CQP RUESRC) for businesses and employees.
• Stage de Récupération de Points (Points Recovery Course) Mandatory 2-day road safety awareness and sensitivity seminar that allows licensed drivers who have lost points to recover up to 4 points on their driving license. Charged per session and delivered at approved ECF centers.
• My ECF (Learner Portal) Online learning portal for individual driving school students to access web-based theory preparation (Code de la Route), e-learning modules, and progress tracking.
• ECF PRO Espace Client (Enterprise Client Portal) Dedicated online portal for business clients to manage professional training enrollments, view conventions and invoices, track employee training progress, and access training calendars with dedicated account management.
• ECF MOTODAY Annual regional motorcycle gathering events organized by ECF driving schools in partnership with national brands (Honda, Shell, Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, Motoblouz) to promote road safety and build community among two-wheel riders.
• TGD (The Good Drive) Simulator Proprietary lightweight driving simulator developed by the ECF network, featuring a 49-inch curved screen, 15 modules, 55 driving scenarios, 5 to 10 hours of simulation, and 150 km of virtual driving (night, bad weather, highway, rural roads), designed to reduce in-car lesson time and lower training costs.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Honda FranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHonda France is a national partner of the ECF Motoday event series, which organizes annual regional motorcycle gatherings across France. The partnership supports road safety awareness and community building among motorcyclists.
• ShellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShell is listed as a national partner of the ECF Motoday motorcycle events, contributing to the sponsorship and promotion of road safety and responsible riding.
• MichelinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMichelin is listed as a national partner of ECF Motoday, providing brand endorsement and promotional support for the annual motorcycle safety events.
• BridgestoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBridgestone is listed as a national partner of the ECF Motoday event series, supporting motorcycle safety initiatives through co-marketing.
• ContinentalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerContinental is listed as a national partner of ECF Motoday, contributing to the sponsorship of the regional motorcycle gatherings.
• MotoblouzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMotoblouz is listed as a national partner of ECF Motoday, providing promotional and marketing support for the annual motorcycle events organized by ECF.
• La Branche des Services de l'Automobile (OPCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECF partners with the automobile services industry branch through the Compétences Emplois device to help small businesses (under 50 employees) upskill their workforce in response to energy, technological, and competitive transformations. This is a structured government-backed training initiative.
• ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés)minorOthersECF collaborates with ANTS for the administrative processing of driving license categories (B96, BE, etc.), where successful completion of training results in license updates processed through the ANTS portal.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Norauto: French automotive services retailer that occasionally partners with or cross-references driving schools. Thematically adjacent to ECF through the automotive services ecosystem and OPCO relationships.

Emerging players

• En Voiture Simone: French driving school specialized in senior and anxious-driver learners, with female instructors as a core differentiator. Adjacent overlap with ECF's Grand Public segment but targeted at a specific niche.
• Auto-Ecole.net: French online driving school platform focused on code de la route preparation and license booking. Overlaps with ECF's theory-test offering and competes for the price-sensitive online learner segment.
• Ornikar: French digital-first driving school offering code de la route and Permis B training through an online platform with transparent pricing. Targets the same consumer demographic as ECF's Grand Public segment but with a leaner, lower-cost structure.

Direct peers

• AFTRAL: Major French professional training provider for transport, logistics, and safety certifications (FIMO, FCO, CACES, ADR). Direct competitor to ECF PRO in the B2B compliance-driven training market.
• CER (Centres d'Éducation Routière): One of the largest traditional driving school networks in France, with a multi-agency franchise model covering Permis B, motorcycle, and professional licenses. Directly comparable to ECF in scale, geographic footprint, and B2C/B2B training mix.
• BSM (British School of Motoring): Long-established UK driving school network with a multi-instructor franchise model serving consumer and professional learners. Structurally analogous to ECF's franchised, brand-led approach, though operating in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• AFPA: France's largest professional training organization covering a wide range of vocational qualifications including logistics and construction. Overlaps with ECF PRO on B2B vocational training but serves a much broader professional education portfolio.
• AA Driving School: UK driving school operated under the AA's broader motoring-services brand. Comparable to ECF as a consumer driving school with strong brand backing and national reach, though part of a much wider motoring portfolio.

Regional players

• Stage Récupération de Points (consolidated point-recovery operators): Aggregator/operator network of approved French point-recovery centers. Directly competes with ECF's Stage de Récupération de Points revenue stream on a regional basis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ECFasso
• Facebookfacebook.com/groupe.ecf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecf-cotard
• Instagraminstagram.com/groupe_ecf/?hl=fr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ECF COTARD