He boasts of being one of Namibia’s best car tuners and has a passion for cars that would most likely eclipse new ‘Top Gear’ presenter Chris Evans’.
Twenty-two-year-old Alois Greifeneder’s love for all things motoring started when he got his first car, a Toyota Hilux.
Alois grew up in Freedom Square in Katutura and attended St Andrews Primary School before completing his formal schooling at Dawid Bezuidenhout High School.
While he initially wanted to become a tattoo artist, this changed in 2013 when his mother bought him his first car.
“I had no money to upgrade it and make it look awesome, so I decided to work on it myself with the help of my friends and we did a good job on it,” Alois said.
After customising his car, many were so impressed that they approached him to work on their own rides.
Alois said he never had a problem getting his father on board with his plans to pursue a career in motoring.
“My father supported me in everything I wanted to do but my mom wanted me to concentrate on furthering my studies, so she enrolled me in a mechanical engineering course, which I quit after three months because it was not for me,” he said.
When he quit, he ended up staying at home for a while.
“My mom began to nag me about finding a job. A few weeks later, my friend Mondario, who had a tool box, and I got a job to replace a car’s faulty brakes. We did it with ease and earned N$300,” Alois said.
He then realised he could turn this into a business.
“We decided to advertise our car repair business and later we got a client who wanted a repair of his brake pads and brake calipers, so I went to ask my neighbour for his compressor and we did the job and earned N$650,” he said.
As time passed, it became difficult for Alois to get jobs. “I would just sit at home with my friends and play video games but the jobs started coming in slowly but surely.”
“We worked outside the confines of my yard as my mom did not want me to fix cars in her yard. As time went by, she saw that we were actually fixing the cars and not leaving them in a worse condition so she let us move the workshop into her yard and I started working from under a tree.”
What Alois may lack in formal training,he believes he makes up for in practical experience.
“My course was playing with cars first hand and learning on the job. If we encountered great difficulties, we would access YouTube and watch tutorials with solutions to the problems at hand or we would ask more experienced people who were involved in the car industry for years for some help.”
He also consults car magazine Speed and Sound.
“That book is my Bible, it taught and teaches me everything I need to know about cars, how to go about working with them, about new car developments and improvements and so on,” Alois said.
He is mainly interested in art that can be drawn on cars but his business (in collaboration with THT Trading) does everything from general mechanics, spray painting and panel beating, wiring and air conditioning, sound system installations, custom lighting, rim repairs and painting, upholstery, car alarms, ball bars, tow bars, gear locks, spotlighting, and exhaust system repairs and installations.
“Our team can basically do anything concerning a car. With us, it is like a one-way stop; a customer brings their car(s) and gives us a list of what they want done and we do the rest,” Alois said.
His company, which he started last year, is called Calazero and Toy Boys Tuning and he rents a workshop from THT Trading, which is owned by Harry Tlhalehile.
“I moved into this workshop situated in the northern industrial area in December of last year; and so far I have made a lot of money.”
“I knew him since he was young, and never knew he would have such an amazing talent and be creative. I saw his work and right then and there I knew, his (work) is number one. He works really hard and can easily work two days without rest,” said Harry of Alois. He also said Alois handles pressure well.
“Him being only 22 years old and making so much money while doing a great job will soon elevate him to be Namibia’s best, he just needs a little training abroad,” Harry added.
Alois said he is motivated by Ryan Friedlinghaus (CEO and founder of West Coast Customs, a car customisation shop based in Burbank, California) and Warren Buffet (an American business mogul).
“I read Warren Buffet’s quotes intensively. What he says inspires me to keep going.”
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
