Sydney-based entrepreneur Alexander Munao has turned what began as a single car rental into a thriving car-sharing enterprise built through the popular peer-to-peer platform Turo. Here’s the story of how he did it, the strategy behind the rapid growth, and what it reveals about the changing mobility landscape in Australia.
From Spare Car to Side Hustle
In 2022, Alexander listed his personal compact car on Turo after noticing it spent most of the week unused. At the time, he was working full-time in sales, and the idea was simple: let the car earn income when he wasn’t driving it.
The vehicle was quickly booked out almost daily. That early traction sparked a bigger idea. If one car could reliably earn income, why not scale it? With that mindset, he began expanding—focusing on clean cars, easy pickups, and fast communication.
“I began with a simple idea: make pickup easy, keep the cars tidy, and answer messages fast. The systems came later — the standards came first.”
For more on his entrepreneurial story, visit munao.com.au.
Scaling Up: Building a Fleet
Using revenue from his first few vehicles, Alexander reinvested to grow strategically. Within two years, what started with a single Holden Barina became a 43-vehicle fleet—with a projected annual turnover of approximately $400,000 AUD.
His vehicles now include popular models such as MG3s, Holden Cruzes, Nissan X-Trails, Toyota Camrys, and Mitsubishi Outlanders. Most are parked in Sydney’s inner-city suburbs, positioned for maximum accessibility and high occupancy.
Behind the scenes, he built a streamlined operational system—standardised handovers, cleaning schedules, pricing strategies, and a guest-first approach—to ensure the business scaled smoothly without losing quality.
Learn more about his fleet at Chippendale Carshare.
Why It Works — And What’s Driving the Trend
Several key factors contributed to Alexander’s success:
- Rising urban car ownership costs — registration, protection plans, and parking have made ownership less appealing in dense cities.
- Demand for flexible mobility — more people now prefer access over ownership. Turo gives them that flexibility.
- Operational consistency — a professional, standardised fleet experience creates repeat bookings and strong reviews.
- Scalable structure — reinvesting profits and systemising processes allowed rapid fleet expansion.
These trends reflect a broader cultural shift: younger Australians increasingly view vehicles as assets to be shared rather than solely owned.
Challenges & Lessons
Alexander is open about the realities behind the glossy success story. Running a 40+ vehicle fleet comes with serious operational challenges:
- Selecting reliable, cost-effective vehicles is crucial to minimise downtime.
- Building strong operational systems for cleaning, handovers, and communications is non-negotiable.
- Parking and logistics are ongoing challenges in inner-city Sydney.
- Delivering an exceptional guest experience—reliability, communication, and convenience—is what drives long-term bookings and brand reputation.
Looking Ahead
Alexander plans to expand beyond 50 vehicles, with a focus on strategic growth rather than uncontrolled scaling. Future plans include securing additional storage near Sydney Airport and enhancing his digital presence under the Chippendale Carshare brand.
He represents a new wave of Turo hosts who treat the platform not as a side hustle, but as a full-scale business. His story shows how a single idle car can turn into a structured, profitable operation—with the right strategy, discipline, and guest-first mindset.
For more information on car rental and co-hosting opportunities, check out Chippendale Car Rental.
Final Word
Alexander Munao’s Turo journey is a powerful example of modern entrepreneurship. It’s about spotting opportunity, creating systems, and leaning into changing consumer behaviour.
What started as one spare car now fuels a six-figure car-sharing business, helping shape the future of mobility in Sydney.
👉 https://chippocarshare.com.au
👉 https://chippendalecarrental.org
👉 https://munao.com.au
