Acceptance of Automated Vehicles in Logistics and Beyond: A Survey-Based Investigation

Automated vehicles (AVs) are becoming an integral part of several industries, including logistics, which is already undergoing substantial transformations. As logistics operations extend beyond logistics hubs and into city streets, AVs are expected to soon interact not only with operators, but also with lay people on a daily basis. Introducing AVs into society poses many technical and social challenges. This paper addresses user acceptance of AVs in the context of logistics operations, particularly focusing on the shared use of open roads. To conduct the investigation, a user survey was designed, and 178 observations were collected. Our results show that participants’ familiarity about AVs had a significant positive impact on all acceptance factors except usefulness and security. Furthermore, their age also had a positive effect on perceived security. Our qualitative results help to refine these findings, showing nuances that connect acceptance to transparent communication, environmental issues, and use in mixed traffic.