Comparing shared autonomous vehicle adoption in Beijing and Busan: The role of rideshare perception

Understanding shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) adoption requires attention to psychological dispositions and contextual influences. This study investigates how perceptions related to ridesharing, particularly the willingness to rideshare (WTRS), shape SAV adoption intentions in two contrasting urban contexts: Beijing, China and Busan, South Korea. Employing a hybrid choice modeling framework, we incorporated latent psychological constructs including technology savviness, trust in fellow passengers, perceived economic benefits, environmental consciousness, and privacy concerns, along with socio-demographic variables. The results confirm that the WTRS is a significant predictor of SAV adoption in both cities. However, a posterior analysis of the latent variable distributions reveals that Busan respondents, despite exhibiting lower technology savviness, weaker trust in fellow passengers, lower environmental consciousness, and stronger privacy concerns than their Beijing counterparts, express greater interest in adopting SAVs. This divergence suggests that psychological readiness alone does not fully account for behavioral intentions. It may reflect practical considerations, such as limited mobility or higher transportation costs in the region, which can heighten interest in shared mobility services despite lower psychological readiness. Therefore, a nuanced understanding of both attitudinal and contextual drivers is essential for promoting equitable and context-sensitive SAV deployment.