Elon Musk doesn't care if the Austin-made Cybertruck is a flop

Some predict that Tesla's forthcoming Cybertruck will be a flop. But it's no sweat off CEO Elon Musk's back.

The futuristic truck is slated to be produced at the Tesla Gigafactory in Southeast Travis County. But Tim Healey, managing editor of The Truth About Cars blog, thinks it may be too futuristic.

"It looks like a one-off Hot Wheels toy come to life," he wrote in an opinion piece published on Thursday.

Tesla fans came to the enigmatic entrepreneur's defense. "It's just an opinion and it is most definitely wrong," Tesla Owners Online, which has more than 92,000 followers, tweeted in response.

Musk was more measured. "To be frank, there is always some chance that Cybertruck will flop, because it is so unlike anything else," he tweeted in response. "I don't care. I love it so much even if others don't."

The Cybertruck is due to be released late this year, with volume production to start in 2022. The price ranges from $39,900 to $69,900, depending on the motor type, with a full self-driving add-on available for $10,000. It offers a slick center console, a 250-mile battery range, and 100 cubic feet of storage. Although its competitors feature some similar attributes, the Tesla truck stands alone in its design.

When Musk unveiled the Cybertruck last November at an event at the Tesla Design Center in Los Angeles, it prompted much commentary.

Despite the divided opinions and the fact that it has yet to hit the market, the truck is already a collectible, earning its own showcase at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Healey conceded that the Cybertruck will find customers among die-hard Tesla fans, collectors and the more than 1 million people who have reserved one by putting down a $100 deposit. But he suspects the model will be outshined by forthcoming electric trucks like the Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning and GMC Hummer.

"I could be wrong," he wrote. "That said, I think the Cybertruck just won't sell well, and Tesla will soon find itself working on a more conventional pickup."

Musk, on the other hand, believes the Cybertruck's different look will be its main selling point. "Other trucks look like copies of the same thing, but Cybertruck looks like it was made by aliens from the future," he tweeted.