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Understanding Consumers’ Adoption Behavior of Driverless Delivery Vehicles: Insights from the Combined Use of NCA and PLS-SEM

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  • Wei Zhou

    (School of Management, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000, China)

  • Shervin Espahbod

    (Shannon School of Business, Cape Breton University, Sydney, NS B1M 1A2, Canada)

  • Victor Shi

    (Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada)

  • Emmanuel Nketiah

    (School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, Nanjing 210094, China)

Abstract

The rapid development of autonomous driving technology has been a key driver for the emergence of driverless delivery vehicles. To promote wider adoption, it is essential to address consumers’ concerns about safety and reliability, leverage psychological factors, and implement supportive policies that encourage technology adoption while ensuring public safety and privacy. Therefore, it is necessary to explain and predict consumers’ behavior and intention to adopt driverless delivery vehicles. To this end, this study extends the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to include technological complexity and perceived trust. This study evaluates the model by applying necessary condition analysis (NCA) and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze data from 579 respondents from Jiangsu Province, China. This study explores the sustainability implications of autonomous delivery vehicles, highlighting their potential to reduce environmental impact and promote a more sustainable transportation system. The outcomes indicate that perceived ease of use (PEU), attitude, perceived trust, technological complexity (TECOM), and perceived usefulness (PU) are significant determinants and necessary conditions of consumers’ intention to adopt driverless delivery vehicles. Perceived trust and TECOM had a significant and indirect influence on consumers’ intention to adopt driverless delivery vehicles via PU and PEU. Perceived trust and technological complexity had a substantial impact on consumers’ adoption intention of driverless delivery vehicles. The study recommends that managers work closely with regulators to ensure their technologies meet all local standards and regulations. It also recommends its potential to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and contribute to a more sustainable transportation system.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Zhou & Shervin Espahbod & Victor Shi & Emmanuel Nketiah, 2025. "Understanding Consumers’ Adoption Behavior of Driverless Delivery Vehicles: Insights from the Combined Use of NCA and PLS-SEM," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-29, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:5730-:d:1684572
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kapser, Sebastian & Abdelrahman, Mahmoud & Bernecker, Tobias, 2021. "Autonomous delivery vehicles to fight the spread of Covid-19 – How do men and women differ in their acceptance?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 183-198.
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