Trust is regarded as one of the main predictors for adopting automated buses (ABs). However, theories about trust (development) in technology generally vary and an in-depths study about trust in ABs specifically is still outstanding. The present study fills this gap by presenting results from focus group interviews to trust (development) in shared automated buses prior to exposure. The objectives of this study are to contrast participants’ naïve concepts of trust with theory and to identify underlying factors influencing a-priori trust in ABs. Results show that the N = 21 focus group participants use different strategies to familiarise themselves with the new technology of ABs, e.g., comparisons with familiar technologies, fundamental tendencies to approach or avoid, additional information seeking, or anthropomorphisation. These strategies largely support existing theories on trust (development) in technology. Differences between naïve interpretations of trust and its theoretical assumptions were found in focus group debates where more control over technology limited uncertainty and led to more trust. While theories suggest control and trust to be incompatible opposites, participants see control as a way to enhance trust. We provide starting points for further theory development and expansion and stress the importance of explanations in emerging technologies for trust and acceptance building.

信任被认为是采用自动总线 (AB) 的主要预测因素之一。然而，技术中关于信任（发展）的理论普遍存在差异，特别是对 AB 信任的深入研究仍然很突出。本研究通过在暴露之前展示从焦点小组访谈到共享自动巴士中的信任（发展）的结果来填补这一空白。本研究的目的是将参与者对信任的幼稚概念与理论进行对比，并确定影响对 AB 的先验信任的潜在因素。结果表明，N = 21 个焦点小组参与者使用不同的策略来熟悉 AB 的新技术，例如，与熟悉的技术进行比较、接近或避免的基本趋势、寻求额外信息或拟人化。这些策略在很大程度上支持有关技术信任（发展）的现有理论。在焦点小组辩论中发现了对信任的幼稚解释与其理论假设之间的差异，其中对技术的更多控制限制了不确定性并导致更多相信。虽然理论认为控制和信任是不相容的对立面，但参与者将控制视为增强信任的一种方式。我们为进一步的理论发展和扩展提供了起点，并强调了对新兴技术的解释对建立信任和接受度的重要性。