How Millennials Will Use Autonomous Vehicles: An Interview Study

Abstract

Hardly any other innovation has the potential to change our traffic systems as profoundly and dramatically as autonomous vehicles. In this context, the potentials of shared autonomous vehicles (SAV) are discussed controversially. In the age of cities struggling with growing emissions and congestion problems, some experts predict SAV to reduce private car use and to have an overall positive effect on transportation and traffic. Others fear an increase in vehicle miles traveled due to the high convenience SAV will offer. To address this concern more thoroughly we analyzed users’ perceptions and attitudes towards SAV by conducting 25 qualitative interviews focusing on the questions if and under what circumstances users would adopt SAV and how SAV would affect a user’s mobility behavior. Results show that participants especially tend to use SAV instead of traditional taxis and local public transport.