The flying Tesla is the car meme of the week. Clips of a white Roadster lifting off the ground are all over TikTok and X, usually under one of two captions: "Day 1 of owning a Roadster" or simply "make my car fly". Half the comments ask whether it's real, and the other half want to know how to make one with their own face, or their cat, in the driver's seat. This post explains where the meme comes from, why the "Day 1" format works, and how to make your own flying car video from a single photo with the Tesla Roadster AI video template on Viberot.

A man in a blonde bob wig and brown suit sits at the wheel of a white supercar stuck between yellow taxis in New York, moments before it lifts off
Day 1 of owning a Roadster: stuck in traffic, one button away from leaving

Where the flying Tesla meme comes from#

In October 2026 the new-generation Tesla Roadster was back in the news, and the part people kept sharing was the idea of a car with thrusters that can actually leave the ground. The real footage looked so unreal that a lot of viewers assumed it was AI-generated.

That reaction turned into the joke. If a real car hopping off a ramp already looks like AI, then an AI video of you flying off in one is only a small step further. Within days, "flying car meme" and "Tesla flying car meme" videos started to stack up: a bored driver in gridlock presses one button and goes straight up, a pet stares into a police bodycam and blasts off, a brand-new owner "tests the features" on day one.

A quick honesty note, because this matters when you post: most of the flying Tesla clips you see in your feed are AI videos or edits, not real car footage. That's fine — the meme is the fantasy. Just don't present an AI clip as a real product demo.

The "Day 1 of owning a Roadster" format#

The caption does most of the work. "Day 1 of owning a Roadster" frames the clip as a proud new owner trying the car for the first time — and then the car does something no car should do. The best versions follow a simple structure:

  1. The normal moment. The driver is stuck in traffic or pulled over, looking bored or nervous.
  2. The button. One press, a hiss, white vapour under the car.
  3. The lift-off. The car goes straight up, out of the traffic or away from the officer.
  4. The chaos. The car flips, the driver screams or laughs, the coffee goes everywhere.

The joke works because the first half looks like an ordinary dashcam or phone clip. Variations you'll see: "Day 2 of owning a Roadster" (something even worse happens), "POV: you finally bought the Roadster", or "When the traffic won't move".

Make my car fly: how to make your own flying car video#

You don't need a Roadster, a green screen or any editing skills. The flying car AI template builds the whole scene around one photo:

  1. Upload one photo. A clear, front-facing photo of one person — or one cat or dog. The driver keeps the face, fur and clothes from your photo.
  2. Pick a style. Traffic jam is a 10-second daytime clip: gridlocked yellow taxis, a bored driver, one button, lift-off between the skyscrapers and a full flip. Police stop is a 12-second night-time bodycam clip: the officer knocks on the window, the driver stares straight into the camera without a word, and the car blasts off into the night.
  3. Pick a format. 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts, or 16:9 for YouTube and the group chat.
  4. Generate. The video comes back in a few minutes, with sound and no music, so you can add your own track when you post.
A white cat sits at the wheel of a silver-white Roadster-style car at night while a police officer in black gloves stands at the window
Pets are the strongest version: a very serious cat at a police stop

One thing to know before you start: the template does not use a photo of your own car. Every video uses the same white Roadster-style supercar, and you (or your pet) are the driver. If you were hoping to upload your Honda and watch it take off, this isn't that — but for the meme, the white Roadster is exactly the car people expect to see.

Tips for a flying Tesla video that gets shared#

  • Use the caption. Post the Traffic jam clip with "Day 1 of owning a Roadster" on screen. The first seconds look like a normal commute, so the caption sets up the punchline.
  • Pets win. A cat or dog behind the wheel, staring into the police bodycam, is the version people rewatch and send to friends.
  • Post both styles. Same photo, two getaways: the traffic jam one day, the police stop the next.
  • Pick a clean photo. Face the camera, good light, no sunglasses, nothing covering the face. For pets, a photo where the eyes and markings are clear.
  • Add a sound when posting. The clips have sound effects (horns, thrusters, screaming, or the officer's "Do you know how fast you were going?") but no music, so a trending sound from the TikTok or Instagram library drops right in.
A young woman with a platinum bob and a lilac suit stares into a police bodycam through the open window of a white Roadster-style car at night
The police stop: one long stare, then she's gone

How much it costs#

A Traffic jam video costs 81 credits at 480p or 167 credits at 720p. A Police stop video costs 97 credits at 480p or 201 credits at 720p. The exact price is always shown next to the Generate button before you start, and if a generation fails, the credits go straight back to your balance.

Credit packs are one-time payments, not a subscription: they start at $9.90 for 600 credits and never expire. See the pricing page for every option.

Frequently asked questions#

Is the flying Tesla video real?#

Most of the flying Tesla clips going around are AI-generated or edited. The meme grew out of real Roadster news, but the videos of people lifting off from traffic jams, police stops and parking lots are made for fun.

What does "Day 1 of owning a Roadster" mean?#

It's a caption format: the clip is framed as a brand-new owner trying the car for the first time, and then the car flies. It's a joke about how unreal the new Roadster looks.

Can I make my own car fly?#

Not your own car model. The template always uses a white Roadster-style supercar; what's personal is the driver — your face, or your pet — from the photo you upload.

Can I use my cat or dog?#

Yes. Cats and dogs work very well and keep their own fur colour and markings.

How long is the video?#

10 seconds for Traffic jam and 12 seconds for Police stop, in 9:16 or 16:9.

Is this an official Tesla product?#

No. Viberot is an independent AI video tool with no connection to Tesla, Inc. or SpaceX. The car may look like a Tesla — that's part of the meme, not an endorsement.

Want the full shot-by-shot breakdown?#

The Tesla Roadster AI video guide walks through both styles scene by scene, with more examples. If you like putting yourself into a viral scene from one photo, also try the Crazy Frog invisible moped or the Burning Bridges party video.