03 Nov 2026
Chi Yang, PhD student at the International Business School Suzhou (IBSS), Xi’an Jiaotong‑Liverpool University, has recently published his research paper in Transport Policy (ABS 2, ABDC A, CAS Q1), a leading international journal in transport policy research. The study investigates how perceived government support configurational shapes public adoption intention toward Shared Autonomous Mobility Services (SAMS), comparing pathways between pilot and non‑pilot cities and offering empirical insights for the roll‑out of robotaxis and smart mobility solutions.
The paper is titled “Shared Autonomous Mobility Services: Configurational Roles of Perceived Government Support in Adoption Intention across Pilot and Non‑Pilot Cities”. As robotaxis and shared autonomous mobility services gain growing public visibility, encouraging consumers to move from awareness to adoption remains a critical practical challenge for both industry and policymakers.
Drawing on 725 valid survey responses covering 173 Chinese cities, the research applies fuzzy‑set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to examine condition configurations associated with high adoption intention across pilot versus non‑pilot contexts. The results suggest no single factor can independently produce high adoption intention; instead, multiple conditions jointly form equifinal pathways.
In pilot cities, perceived national government support, consumer awareness and perceived ease of use serve as core recurring conditions within high‑adoption configurations. In non‑pilot cities, perceived national‑and‑local government support, social influence and technology perceptions interact in more diverse combinations. Notably, even under low perceived government support, favourable technology perceptions paired with positive social influence can still yield high adoption intention.
The study further identifies consistent patterns for low adoption intention: low perceived usefulness and low perceived ease of use repeatedly appear in configurations discouraging adoption, highlighting the essential role of practical service value and user‑friendly experience.
These findings deliver actionable implications for policymakers, autonomous mobility firms and shared‑mobility platforms. Scaling SAMS demands context‑specific strategies for different city settings, integrating policy communication, service improvement and market development. Governments shall enhance policy outreach and public awareness; industry players need to boost perceived usefulness and ease‑of‑use while leveraging positive social influence to foster broader acceptance.
The paper is co‑authored by Chi Yang, Dr Miaomiao Liu, Professor Lixian Qian, and Yang Cao (Imperial College London, former IBSS Marketing student).
【About the IBSS PhD programmes】
The IBSS PhD programmes at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University offer an excellent opportunity for students seeking doctoral study at a young, dynamic and academically strong business school. Founded in 2013, IBSS is the largest English-language business schools in China and is among an elite and prestigious group of business schools worldwide to hold Triple Crown accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA. IBSS brings together a highly international body of academic staff, with all holding overseas doctoral degrees and/or international work experience, and offers prospective students access to a strong pool of potential supervisors in a vibrant, research-led academic environment.
PhD students at IBSS study in a highly international environment and benefit from joint supervision involving XJTLU and the University of Liverpool, UK, gaining broad academic support and diverse international perspectives. IBSS offers doctoral research opportunities across a broad range of areas in business, including accounting, economics, finance, strategy, organisation, marketing, operations, and data-driven business research, among other fields. Prospective applicants are warmly encouraged to explore the webpages and academic staff profiles of each department to identify research areas and potential supervisors that best match their own research interests.
We welcome outstanding applicants to apply through the online application system.
If you have any questions regarding the application system, please contact: DoctoralStudies@xjtlu.edu.cn. For enquiries about the IBSS PhD programmes, please email: IBSS.PhD@xjtlu.edu.cn
03 Nov 2026