Edinburgh Napier University

  The work presented in the paper aims at exploring information technology acceptance in the context of Autonomous Vehicles (AV) with the objectives of identifying and testing the constructs that will influence future AVs acceptance. Most models of technology acceptance focus on barriers of successful information technology implementation in organisations and technologies that have already been deployed. There is only a small number of studies conducted on emerging and disruptive technologies such as AV. We address this issue by deriving context-related determinants from an extensive literature analysis and further describing a technology acceptance modeling process to provide an explanation for drivers’ and factors influencing people behavioural intention to accept AV technology. Based on our evaluation we take the determinants self-efficacy, perceived safety, trust, anxiety and legal regulation into consideration. The outcome and main contribution of this paper is the proposal of a theoretical AV technology acceptance model (AVTAM). This study concluded that the performance of these AV technologies, their safety on the road and consumer’s trust for the AV manufacturers will play a very important role for mass AV adoption.