Intention to use or own autonomous vehicles: Exploring influencing factors through structural equation modeling

With over a decade of intensive research into the development, implementation, and acceptability of autonomous/driverless vehicles (AVs), only a few researchers explored the factors influencing the acceptability of AV, especially those involving the intention to use or own AVs in the context of developing countries. This study examines the factors that influence the intention to use or own AVs. We investigated the influencing factors by concentrating on the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and other factors relating to safety, environment, performance, and road infrastructure among other important factors. The study adopted a survey method where a questionnaire was used as an instrument to collect data from 254 engineering tutors and students from technical institutions in Ghana. A structural equation model was used to investigate the relationship between the influencing factors and the intention to use or own AV variables. The results showed that, overall, infrastructure and social influence were the only direct positive significant influencing factors for both intentions to use and intention to own AVs. However, there was a positive relationship between environmental friendliness and intention to own, and performance expectancy and intention to use. Meanwhile, the individual respondents with lower knowledge about AVs have concerns about the effort required to operate the AVs. Furthermore, respondents with higher education had a positive perception of the environmental friendliness of AVs and a positive perception of the effort required to operate the AVs. The full benefit of AVs can be realized only if people intend to own or use this incredible technology. Therefore, this study intends to contribute to the existing literature on the acceptability of the new AV technology towards the policies that will rely on such literature for the successful introduction of this new technology which is to revolutionize the transport industry.