Cecomp
Italian automotive engineering, prototype-development, and low-volume vehicle manufacturing company.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Cecomp, formally associated with the name Centro Esperienze COstruzione Modelli e Prototipi, is an Italian automotive company based in La Loggia near Turin. Founded in 1978 by Giovanni Forneris, the company developed from Turin’s specialist automotive design and coachbuilding environment and built its business around the creation of vehicle models, prototypes, and engineering solutions for automobile manufacturers. Its work has included projects connected with Lancia, Maserati, Toyota, and other automotive clients. The company’s origins are closely linked to Forneris’s professional background. Before establishing Cecomp, he worked at Fiat’s Design Centre and subsequently gained experience with prominent Turin-based designers and coachbuilders, including Giovanni Michelotti and Giorgetto Giugiaro. This background positioned Cecomp within a regional ecosystem known for styling, body development, show cars, and technically complex prototype work. Cecomp’s documented project history includes the Maserati Biturbo in 1978, the Lancia Delta S4 in 1984, the Toyota MRJ in 1995, and the Lancia Fulvia Coupé Concept in 2003. These projects illustrate the company’s involvement across different forms of automotive development, ranging from production-oriented programs and competition-related vehicles to concept cars and design studies. From 2011, Cecomp expanded beyond prototype and model development into vehicle manufacturing. It produced the electric Bluecar for the French Bolloré group, giving the company a role in the industrialization and assembly of an electric vehicle rather than only in its design or development. Later projects associated with Cecomp included the Icona Vulcano, presented in 2015, and the Microlino, associated with 2022. The latter reflects the company’s continued involvement in emerging compact and electric mobility programs. Cecomp is also a founding partner of Icona Design Group, an organization focused on taking Italian design and engineering capabilities into international markets, particularly China. Through this relationship, Cecomp’s activities sit at the intersection of Italian automotive craftsmanship, engineering services, prototype production, and international design collaboration. The available reference material does not identify a public listing, a parent corporation, detailed financial results, or a current executive roster beyond the company’s founder.
History
Cecomp was established in 1978 in the Turin area by Giovanni Forneris, who had previously worked at Fiat’s Design Centre and with well-known Turin designers and coachbuilders such as Giovanni Michelotti and Giorgetto Giugiaro. The company’s name refers to its original focus on construction models, prototypes, and related automotive development activities. Its location in La Loggia placed it within one of Europe’s most important automotive design and engineering regions. During its early development, Cecomp worked on projects for established automobile manufacturers. Its documented portfolio begins with the Maserati Biturbo in 1978 and includes the Lancia Delta S4 in 1984. The company later worked on the Toyota MRJ in 1995 and the Lancia Fulvia Coupé Concept in 2003. These projects demonstrate a broad technical remit: Cecomp was not limited to one vehicle segment or one stage of development, but participated in production-car programs, specialist vehicles, and design concepts. A major change came in 2011, when Cecomp expanded into manufacturing. The company produced the electric Bluecar for Bolloré, a French group involved in electric mobility. This represented a shift from primarily creating models and prototypes toward industrial production and contract manufacturing for an electric vehicle program. The move also connected Cecomp with the development of early modern electric urban mobility. Cecomp’s later project record includes the Icona Vulcano in 2015 and the Microlino in 2022. The Icona Vulcano represented a high-performance and design-led specialist vehicle project, while the Microlino reflected the growing importance of small electric vehicles and urban mobility. The available material does not provide detailed production volumes, technical specifications, commercial results, or the precise division of responsibilities for each program. The company is a founding partner of Icona Design Group. Icona’s stated purpose is to export Italian design and engineering services to international markets, particularly China. This relationship gives Cecomp an international dimension beyond its Turin base and links its specialist manufacturing and development capabilities with a broader design-services platform. The available reference material does not establish a detailed chronology of ownership changes, a current leadership team, financial performance, stock-market status, or a standalone consumer retail strategy. Cecomp is best characterized as a business-to-business automotive design, engineering, prototype, and manufacturing specialist rather than a mass-market vehicle brand.
- 2022
Microlino project
[1]Microlino was listed among Cecomp’s later projects in the compact electric-mobility field.
- 2015
Icona Vulcano project
[1]The Icona Vulcano was included among Cecomp’s notable specialist automotive projects.
- 2011
Expansion into electric-vehicle manufacturing
[1]Cecomp began manufacturing the electric Bluecar for Bolloré, extending its role from prototype development into vehicle production.
- 2003
Lancia Fulvia Coupé Concept
[1]Cecomp was associated with development of the Lancia Fulvia Coupé Concept.
- 1995
Toyota MRJ project
[1]The Toyota MRJ was listed as a notable Cecomp project.
- 1984
Lancia Delta S4 project
[1]Cecomp’s documented project portfolio included the Lancia Delta S4.
- 1978
Cecomp was founded in the Turin area
[1]Giovanni Forneris established Cecomp in La Loggia, near Turin, building on his experience in Fiat’s design organization and with Turin-based designers and coachbuilders.
- 1978
Maserati Biturbo project
[1]The Maserati Biturbo was among Cecomp’s first listed notable automotive projects.
Products and positioning
A specialist Italian automotive development partner combining Turin design heritage with prototype construction, engineering, concept-vehicle development, and selected vehicle-manufacturing capabilities.
Automotive engineering and design services · 1978
Automotive prototypes and models
Cecomp’s core historical activity is the development and construction of vehicle models and prototypes for automotive manufacturers. This work supports styling validation, engineering development, presentation vehicles, and specialist programs. The company’s listed projects for Maserati, Lancia, and Toyota illustrate its role as a behind-the-scenes development partner rather than a mass-market vehicle marque.
Electric vehicle manufacturing · 2011
Bolloré Bluecar
The Bluecar was an electric vehicle produced for the French Bolloré group. Cecomp’s involvement marked an important expansion into manufacturing and industrial execution. The program connected the company’s prototype and engineering capabilities with the production of an electric urban vehicle.
Specialist concept and performance vehicle · 2015
Icona Vulcano
The Icona Vulcano was a design-led specialist vehicle project listed among Cecomp’s notable work. It illustrates the company’s participation in low-volume, high-visibility automotive projects where styling, fabrication, engineering integration, and presentation quality are central.
Compact electric mobility vehicle · 2022
Microlino
Microlino is a compact electric-mobility project included in Cecomp’s later project history. Its presence in the company’s portfolio points to continued involvement in small urban vehicles and emerging electric-mobility formats. The available reference does not specify Cecomp’s exact manufacturing or engineering responsibilities.
Brand decisions
2011
Move from prototype development into vehicle manufacturingStrategyBackground
Cecomp had established itself through automotive models, prototypes, and development work for manufacturers. The company then broadened its activities as electric mobility created demand for specialized production partners.
Action taken
Cecomp began manufacturing the electric Bluecar for Bolloré.
Aftermath
The move gave Cecomp a documented role in electric-vehicle industrialization and expanded its business beyond design and prototype services. No financial or volume outcomes are provided in the available source.
Recent events
- 2022
Cecomp was associated with the Microlino project[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Microlino was identified among Cecomp’s later notable projects, extending its documented work into compact electric mobility.
- 2015
Cecomp was associated with the Icona Vulcano project[1]
Product launch
The Icona Vulcano was listed among Cecomp’s notable automotive projects, reflecting its continuing involvement in high-end concept and specialist vehicle development.
- 2011
Cecomp expanded into vehicle manufacturing with production of the Bolloré Bluecar[1]
Product launch
Cecomp moved beyond its established prototype and model-development activities by manufacturing the electric Bluecar for French company Bolloré.
Sources1 sources
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