Will artificial intelligence, GPS, and inertial navigation systems become new drivers? The moderating effect of trust on the intention to use autonomous vehicles

Advancements in both hardware and software technologies, exemplified by the emergence of advanced driver assistance systems, have rendered autonomous vehicles a viable alternative to traditional vehicles. It is therefore essential to research the social and behavioral factors associated with consumer acceptance. The present study utilized a sample of 741 individuals to analyze how optimism, innovativeness, comfort, and safety influence the intention to use autonomous vehicles, with trust as a moderating variable. In addition, differences in usage intention were assessed by socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, education, and occupation). The results demonstrate that trust, optimism, innovativeness, and safety have a significant impact on usage intention. The moderating role of trust in the relationships analyzed is also confirmed. A key finding of the study was the presence of significant differences by gender and age. This study provides relevant insights for industry professionals, marketers, and researchers by revealing the behavioral mechanisms that underpin trust practices in autonomous vehicles, thus enabling the design of commercial campaign strategies to increase their future adoption. Source: own elaboration.