Exploring Continuance Usage Behavior of Autonomous Ride-Hailing Vehicles: An Integrated SEM and fsQCA Approach from Wuhan, China

Abstract

Due to low passenger retention rates, autonomous Ride-hailing Vehicles (ARVs) face a critical bottleneck in commercialization, especially in the Chinese market. Based on 312 survey responses from Wuhan, this study systematically explored the mechanisms influencing customers’ continuance usage intention toward autonomous Ride-hailing Vehicles (ARVs), by integration of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). The empirical findings revealed that perceived usefulness, trust in technology, perceived value, perceived price fairness, and psychological ownership exert significant positive effects on sustainable usage intention, with trust in technology demonstrating the strongest direct effect. In contrast, concerns about safety equality demonstrate a significant negative impact. Trust in technology serves as an indirect mediator and emerges as a necessary condition in high-intention fsQCA configurations. Building on all insights, the study proposed a four-dimensional “Technology-Psychology-Safety-Economy” (TPSE) driving model, established a novel theoretical framework for user behavior research in intelligent transportation, and offered empirical guidance for differentiated corporate strategies and technology adoption.