Giovanni "Ernesto" Ceirano

[2] In October 1898 Giovanni Battista and Matteo co-founded Ceirano GB & C and started producing the Welleyes motor car in 1899.

Giovanni Battista was employed by Fiat as the agent for Italy, but within a year he left to found Fratelli Ceirano & C. which in 1903 became Società Torinese Automobili Rapid (S.T.A.R.)

In 1906 Matteo left Itala to found S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) with chief designer, Alberto Ballacco.

In 1934 he acquired the car company FATA (Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili) again with his father Giovanni.

Fiat had imposed legal restrictions on Giovanni during the sale of SCAT-Ceirano, preventing him from being an automotive manufacturer, so the FATA business was reorientated to make auto parts.

Winner of 1911 Targa Florio, Giovanni Ernesto Ceirano driving S.C.A.T.
1914 Targa Florio winner - Giovanni 'Ernesto' Ceirano
1913 Targa Florio - Giovanni 'Ernesto' Ceirano driving S.C.A.T.