 Matteo was the youngest of four brothers born to Giovanni Ceirano, a watchmaker in Cuneo, and Teresa Corino.With Giovanni, he created the "Ceirano Matteo & C." (1903), which became "Ceirano Matteo & C. - Vetture Marca Itala" (1904), which was renamed the "Itala Fabrica Automobile" manufacturing company later that same year.With Michele Ansaldi (the founder of Ansaldi automobiles) he established the Società Piemontese Automobili (1908), from which both retired in 1918.