Editing S.P.A. (automobile) (section)

==Ceirano family background==

The Ceirano brothers, [[Giovanni Battista Ceirano|Giovanni Battista]], [[Giovanni Ceirano|Giovanni]], [[Ernesto Ceirano|Ernesto]] and [[Matteo Ceirano|Matteo]], were influential in the founding of the Italian auto industry, being variously responsible for : [[Ceirano GB & C|Ceirano]]; [[Ceirano GB & C|Welleyes]] (the technical basis of F.I.A.T.); [[Fratelli Ceirano]]; [[Società Torinese Automobili Rapid|S.T.A.R./Rapid]] ([[Società Torinese Automobili Rapid]]); [[SCAT (automobile)|SCAT]] (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino); [[Itala (company)|Itala]] and S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili). Giovanni's son [[Giovanni "Ernesto" Ceirano|Giovanni "Ernesto"]] was also influential, co-founding [[Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili]] (aka [[Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili|Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili]]) and [[Aurea (car)|Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili]] (FATA).

In 1888, after eight years apprenticeship at his father's watch-making business, Giovanni Battista started building ''Welleyes'' bicycles, so named because English names had more sales appeal.<ref>[http://www.italiancar.net/site/cars/lancia/index/lancia.html Lancia, the essentials]</ref> In October 1898 Giovanni Battista and Matteo co-founded [[Ceirano GB & C]] and started producing the ''Welleyes'' motor car in 1899. In July 1899 the plant and patents were sold to [[Giovanni Agnelli]] and produced as the first F.I.A.T.s - the [[Fiat 4 HP]]. Giovanni Battista was employed by Fiat as the agent for Italy, but within a year he left to found [[Fratelli Ceirano|Fratelli Ceirano & C.]] which in 1903 became [[Società Torinese Automobili Rapid]] (S.T.A.R.) building cars badged as 'Rapid'. In 1904 [[Matteo Ceirano]] left Ceirano GB & C to create his own brand - [[Itala (company)|Itala]]. In 1906 Matteo left Itala to found S.P.A. (Società Piemontese Automobili) with chief designer, Alberto Ballacco. In 1906 Giovanni founded SCAT (Società Ceirano Automobili Torino) in Turin. In 1919 Giovanni and Giovanni "Ernesto" co-founded [[Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili]] (aka [[Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili|Giovanni Ceirano Fabbrica Automobili]]) and in 1922 they took control of Fabrica Anonima Torinese Automobili (FATA).