Emerging Passenger Archetypes: Profiling Potential Users of Autonomous Buses in Warsaw

The dynamic development of autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies has intensified the need to understand the factors influencing their acceptance. This study aims to develop user profiles reflecting different levels of enthusiasm toward autonomous buses in Warsaw. A quantitative research design was employed, using a survey of 385 residents collected via CAPI, CATI, and CAWI methods. Cluster analysis (k-means method) identified distinct user profiles based on attitudes toward autonomous buses and general trust in technology: Cluster 1—Enthusiastic Adopters, Cluster 2—Sceptical Opponents, and Cluster 3—Cautious Optimists. The study confirmed that demographic characteristics (age, gender, education level, occupational status) significantly influence the level of enthusiasm for autonomous buses. Younger, highly educated, and professionally active individuals showed highest levels of acceptance. Furthermore, a higher level of general trust in technology was positively associated with greater acceptance of autonomous buses. The research highlights important implications and recommends focusing on districts with a higher concentration of Enthusiastic Adopters and targeted communication strategies for Sceptical Opponents and Cautious Optimists. However, study limitations include the geographic restriction to Warsaw and the absence of data capturing changes in attitudes over time. Future research should be expanded to other cities, exploring ongoing dynamics of trust and acceptance. Despite limiting the research to one specific city, the research tool used and the research itself can be applied to similar cities regardless of their geographical location or size.