Young adults’ acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles in an urban-university setting

IntroductionThis study focuses on a shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) demonstration implemented in Downtown Arlington and university campus to provide a representation of individuals’ experiences with autonomous vehicles. We aim to understand how younger, better-educated individuals and students usual...

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Main Authors: Roya Etminani-Ghasrodashti, Ronik Ketankumar Patel, Apurva Pamidimukkala, Sharareh Kermanshachi, Jay Michael Rosenberger, Ann Foss
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Built Environment
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1613232/full
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author Roya Etminani-Ghasrodashti
Ronik Ketankumar Patel
Apurva Pamidimukkala
Sharareh Kermanshachi
Jay Michael Rosenberger
Ann Foss
author_facet Roya Etminani-Ghasrodashti
Ronik Ketankumar Patel
Apurva Pamidimukkala
Sharareh Kermanshachi
Jay Michael Rosenberger
Ann Foss
author_sort Roya Etminani-Ghasrodashti
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThis study focuses on a shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) demonstration implemented in Downtown Arlington and university campus to provide a representation of individuals’ experiences with autonomous vehicles. We aim to understand how younger, better-educated individuals and students usually assumed to be early adopters of new technologies would accept SAVs.MethodsThis study utilized the survey data to investigate the factors that affect the individual’s inclination to use and adopt the SAVs. Using a structural equation model (SEM), this study tested the effects of factors shaping individuals’ acceptance of SAVs, including attitudes and travel modes.Results and discussionThe study findings revealed that younger individuals and individuals with lower income are more prone to adopt SAVs. The findings demonstrated that favorable perceptions regarding SAVs markedly affect individuals’ willingness to utilize the service. Car users, those with more dependency on cars and fewer ridesharing experiences, are less interested in riding in SAVs, which portends that integrating SAVs and on-demand rideshare services will enhance the accessibility of individuals who already take advantage of ridesharing opportunities. These findings offer a clearer understanding of the potential market for SAV service providers and deepen knowledge about SAV adoption among young people who are more receptive to new technologies.
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spelling doaj-art-06ca068fdba74341939e712057ea20ad2025-08-20T03:24:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Built Environment2297-33622025-06-011110.3389/fbuil.2025.16132321613232Young adults’ acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles in an urban-university settingRoya Etminani-Ghasrodashti0Ronik Ketankumar Patel1Apurva Pamidimukkala2Sharareh Kermanshachi3Jay Michael Rosenberger4Ann Foss5Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), Dallas, TX, United StatesDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Arlington, TX, United StatesDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Arlington, TX, United StatesIndustrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Arlington, TX, United StatesIndustrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Arlington, TX, United StatesOffice of Strategic Initiatives, Arlington, TX, United StatesIntroductionThis study focuses on a shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) demonstration implemented in Downtown Arlington and university campus to provide a representation of individuals’ experiences with autonomous vehicles. We aim to understand how younger, better-educated individuals and students usually assumed to be early adopters of new technologies would accept SAVs.MethodsThis study utilized the survey data to investigate the factors that affect the individual’s inclination to use and adopt the SAVs. Using a structural equation model (SEM), this study tested the effects of factors shaping individuals’ acceptance of SAVs, including attitudes and travel modes.Results and discussionThe study findings revealed that younger individuals and individuals with lower income are more prone to adopt SAVs. The findings demonstrated that favorable perceptions regarding SAVs markedly affect individuals’ willingness to utilize the service. Car users, those with more dependency on cars and fewer ridesharing experiences, are less interested in riding in SAVs, which portends that integrating SAVs and on-demand rideshare services will enhance the accessibility of individuals who already take advantage of ridesharing opportunities. These findings offer a clearer understanding of the potential market for SAV service providers and deepen knowledge about SAV adoption among young people who are more receptive to new technologies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1613232/fullself-driving vehiclesyoung adultstechnology adoptionattitudesstructural equation modeling
spellingShingle Roya Etminani-Ghasrodashti
Ronik Ketankumar Patel
Apurva Pamidimukkala
Sharareh Kermanshachi
Jay Michael Rosenberger
Ann Foss
Young adults’ acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles in an urban-university setting
Frontiers in Built Environment
self-driving vehicles
young adults
technology adoption
attitudes
structural equation modeling
title Young adults’ acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles in an urban-university setting
title_full Young adults’ acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles in an urban-university setting
title_fullStr Young adults’ acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles in an urban-university setting
title_full_unstemmed Young adults’ acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles in an urban-university setting
title_short Young adults’ acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles in an urban-university setting
title_sort young adults acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles in an urban university setting
topic self-driving vehicles
young adults
technology adoption
attitudes
structural equation modeling
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1613232/full
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AT apurvapamidimukkala youngadultsacceptanceofsharedautonomousvehiclesinanurbanuniversitysetting
AT shararehkermanshachi youngadultsacceptanceofsharedautonomousvehiclesinanurbanuniversitysetting
AT jaymichaelrosenberger youngadultsacceptanceofsharedautonomousvehiclesinanurbanuniversitysetting
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