A Tesla Model S rear-ended a fire truck parked on a freeway in the US on Monday morning but the driver said it wasn’t his fault, blaming the state-of-the-art technology instead.

According to California’s Culver City Fire Department, the Tesla car had been on autopilot, and traveling at 104km per hour, when it hit the parked fire truck.

Firefighters were attending to a freeway accident when their truck was hit by the electric-powered vehicle.

The truck apparently sustained only minor damage, while the hood of the Tesla was badly damaged.

Culver City Fire Department said there had been no injuries.

According to Tesla, the Model S’ “autopilot capabilities [are] designed to make your highway driving not only safer, but stress free.” 

However, the feature is “intended for use only with a fully attentive driver,” according to company officials cited by media.

Some consumer advocates have accused Tesla of using technology that hasn’t been safely tested after a number of accidents involving the autopilot mode in Tesla vehicles in recent years.

Tesla has stated that its drivers acknowledge the system is new technology and are told to keep their hands on the wheel.