Investigating Autonomous Vehicle Usage Intentions with a Technology Acceptance Model: The Türkiye Example

Autonomous vehicles are expected to support safer, more efficient, and potentially more sustainable mobility systems, yet their widespread adoption depends strongly on user acceptance. This study examines how perceived risk, perceived ease of use, perceived value, perceived safety, and subjective norms influence intention to use autonomous vehicles in Türkiye. Data were collected from 280 participants through an online survey and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4. The results show that perceived risk negatively affects intention to use (β = −0.085, p = 0.028), whereas perceived ease of use (β = 0.103, p = 0.045), perceived value (β = 0.162, p = 0.012), perceived safety (β = 0.327, p < 0.001), and subjective norms (β = 0.300, p < 0.001) have positive and statistically significant effects. The model explains 66.5% of the variance in intention to use (R2 = 0.665). Perceived safety and subjective norms emerge as the strongest positive predictors, indicating that safety perceptions and social influence are central to adoption. These findings provide empirical evidence from Türkiye and offer implications for manufacturers, mobility service providers, and policymakers seeking to facilitate the transition toward intelligent and sustainable mobility systems.