Perceived Benefits and Concerns of Level 5 Shared Autonomous Vehicles

Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs), autonomous vehicles that have been integrated with on-demand mobility, are expected to significantly alter the mobility landscape, but their successful deployment is highly dependent on consumer acceptance. Numerous studies have explored the various factors that influence an individual’s decision to adopt an SAV; however, few have focused on fully automated SAVs. Therefore, the goal of this study was to supplement the existing body of knowledge by evaluating whether perceived benefits and concerns affect consumers’ intent to adopt fully automated SAVs. Seven benefits and seven concerns were identified through a comprehensive literature review and served as the basis for a survey questionnaire that was designed and distributed to enhance the understanding of the key benefits and concerns that affect consumers’ adoption of Level 5 SAVs. The data (N = 295) was analyzed through the development of an ordinal logistic regression model, and the results indicated that individuals who perceive that Level 5 SAVs will reduce driving stress and lead to lower transportation costs are more likely to adopt the technology. Conversely, those who have concerns about the vehicles’ interactions with other road users and learning to use a fully automated vehicle, and/or who lack confidence in the SAVs’ ability to handle unexpected situations will be less inclined to adopt them.