Developing and Validating a Model for Assessing Autonomous Vehicles Acceptance

The promotion and application of autonomous vehicles (AVs) will bring huge benefits to society in economic and environmental aspects, and the public acceptance degree is a crucial influencing factor. Based on technology acceptance model (TAM) and information system success (ISS) model, this research develops a new framework from the perspective of AVs information system to explain public acceptance. The framework explores the relationship between variables such as system quality, information quality, service quality, perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use and AVS acceptance, and it also examines the mediating role of perceived ease-of-use and perceived usefulness. Based on a survey of 323 respondents, the results indicate that system quality, information quality, and service quality are key factors affecting AVS acceptance. Additionally, compared to perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use manifested a greater mediation on explanatory variables with AVs acceptance. Moreover, the research also makes recommendations for AVs manufacturers to focus on system quality and information interaction mode in the design and development process of AVs. And thus, making AVs easier to use without cognitive load could improve the AVs acceptance and adoption.