Modeling behavioral intentions for sustainable adoption of autonomous vehicles: Theory, measurement, and predictive insights

This study investigated the factors predicting sustainability-oriented behavioral intentions toward using autonomous vehicles (AVs). Grounded in the “Theory of Planned Behavior” (TPB), this study extends the theory by incorporating three sustainability-oriented factors, including perceived environmental concerns, perceived authority support, and perceived economic benefits. The proposed model was thoroughly evaluated using a “Structural Equation Modeling” (SEM) approach. This research involved a diverse cohort of 2192 participants, aged between 18 and 78. The results indicated the significant impacts of sustainability-oriented factors in predicting the TPB constructs, including subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and attitudes toward using AVs. The necessary condition analysis (NCA) results indicated that attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and perceived environmental concerns are significant necessary conditions for behavioral intentions. The findings have practical and managerial implications, providing valuable insights for shaping marketing strategies, formulating policies, establishing pricing strategies, fostering collaborative initiatives, and guiding sustainable product development.