Research on the Willingness to Use Robotaxis Based on Ride-Sharing: Targeting Chinese Consumers

Abstract

Purpose – Ride-sharing is an economical, convenient, and environment-friendly way to travel. Robotaxi, which reflects the two themes ”ride-sharing + self-driving”, is in the “going public” stage. Therefore, pre-research on public willingness to use robotaxi is of great significance for the successful realization of “going public” for Robotaxi. Design/Methodology/Approach – This paper conducted theoretical research and empirical analysis on public willingness to use Robotaxi in China from the perspective of ride-sharing, and drew on the UTAUT model of the “authoritative model” for the acceptance and adoption of new technologies to build a theoretical model of willingness to use Robotaxi. Findings – The analysis results show that, in the comprehensive impact of multiple factors, the public’s Perceived Travel Change (PTC) and Perceived Travel Risk (PTR) are the main positive and negative endogenous variable affecting willingness to use Robotaxi. The public’s Perceived Media Impact (PMI) and Perceived Government Support (PGS) are the positive exogenous variables affecting willingness to use Robotaxi and have an impact on endogenous variables, but Perceived Travel Comfort (PTC) has no significant impact on willingness to use Robotaxi. Research Implications – Based on the results of theoretical research and empirical analysis, this paper puts forward some referential suggestions for the “going public” of Robotaxi in the future.