How to make a flying car video from one photo
From "I want to be in the Tesla flying video" to a clip on your profile: the photo, the ride, the settings, what to do when it looks wrong, and how to add sound.
Updated
What you need
- One clear photo of yourself
- 10 or 22 credits, depending on quality
- A phone or computer with a browser
- About ten minutes, mostly waiting
- 1
Take the right photo
Face the camera in daylight, phone at eye level, upper body or full body in frame. Take off sunglasses and caps: your face has to read in a small frame. Skip beauty filters. More photo tips.
- 2
Open the launch pad and add it
Use the studio on the home page. HEIC from an iPhone is fine. The photo stays private and is deleted after 7 days.
- 3
Pick your ride
Convertible shows your face best (you sit high, side on); bicycle and skateboard show your whole outfit; motorcycle sits in between. All four cost the same. Compare the rides.
- 4
Choose quality and launch
480p looks fine in a phone feed; 720p is sharper for YouTube. Tick the permission box and press the button. AI draws you on the ride first (under a minute, usually), then renders the stunt; 3 to 12 minutes in all, and you can close the tab.
- 5
Pick the sound and post
Download the MP4 with music or the silent copy, drop it into CapCut, TikTok or Reels, swap the sound if you like, and label it as AI where the app asks. Posting guide.
What changes, and what stays the same
The AI swaps one thing: the rider in the stunt, for you on your ride. The camera, the wall, the lights and the timing are the same in every video.
Becomes yours
- You: face from your photo, hair, build and clothes as the photo shows them
- The ride you picked, drawn as a generic convertible, bicycle, motorcycle or skateboard
- Your pose on the ride: hands on the wheel or bars, feet on the pedals or board
Stays the same
- One continuous shot, with the same camera moves every time
- The curved wall, its red edges and the dark test track
- Thruster jets, the night lighting and the red track lights
- The timing of the climb, the launch, the half roll and the smoke landing
The ramp is waiting
Make me flyWhen it looks off: quick fixes
| What you see | Usual cause | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| The face does not look like me | Dark, side-on or filtered photo | Retake facing a window, no filter |
| My clothes changed | Face-only crop, nothing to copy | Use a photo that shows your outfit |
| My face is small on the climb | Normal: the camera films the climb from far off to the side | Watch the close-up at the end; a clear front-facing photo helps most |
| TikTok muted the music | The platform matched the music | Post the silent copy and add a sound in the app |
| The render failed | Safety check or a provider error | Credits come back; try another photo |
Other ways people make it
Tutorials on TikTok show three routes. What each asks of you, as of October 2026.
| Route | You prepare | What comes out |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt tools: Veo, Kling, Higgsfield | A photo, a long prompt, often several tries | Your own scene; the stunt varies per try |
| Video editors (CapCut effects) | Your own footage | Effects on your clip, not a flight |
| This site | One photo | Tesla’s stunt with you on your ride |
FAQ
Questions people ask
Can I make it on iPhone or Android?
Yes. It runs in the browser, so any phone works. No app to install.
Do I need the original Tesla video?
No. The motion reference is built in. If you want to watch the original, here is where Tesla posted it.
Which ride is the most popular?
We do not publish usage numbers. The convertible is closest to the famous clip and shows your face best.
Can I redo it with another ride?
Yes. Each video is a new render with its own credits. Failed renders cost nothing.