User Groups’ Mobility Needs towards CCAM Vehicles – Results from a large EU Survey

New mobility solutions, such as connected and cooperative automated mobility (CCAM) vehicles, are emerging. To ensure their inclusivity and societal acceptance, it is essential to consider the diverse needs of different user groups in their design. Mobility needs are often categorized into four key dimensions: availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability. These factors were tested on data from a large-scale EU-wide survey conducted across 7 countries, with 4472 individuals. Reliability analyses did not support the proposed four A-factor structure. An exploratory factor analysis aiming to identify a better-fitting structure demonstrated no solution with acceptable reliability, questioning the existence of distinct underlying constructs for these needs. Consequently, the study examined differences in the importance ratings of the needs on a single item level across nine distinct user groups, each assumed to have different preconditions and mobility requirements. Results indicated that all groups rated safety, cleanliness, and security similarly. However, elderly participants placed greater importance on the ability to influence the vehicle’s driving style and the possibility to pay offline compared to other groups. Additionally, both elderly individuals and rural residents assigned lower importance to vehicle sustainability and 24/7 availability. Single parents emphasized the need for child-friendly travel options. Overall, differences between user groups were less pronounced than anticipated, potentially due to the novelty of CCAM services. The findings highlight the relative importance of various user needs and offer practical implications for the design and implementation of CCAM vehicles.