Autonomous buses can improve the efficiency of public transportation and offer great benefits for developing sustainable mobility transportation. To realise the potential of autonomous buses in public transportation, understanding the public’s intention to use the new technology-based mobility concept is necessary. Therefore, this study synthesises three theories to explain public intention to use autonomous buses, namely, unified theory of acceptance and usage of technology (UTAUT), task technology fit (TTF) theory and trust theory. A survey instrument (n = 277) is adopted to validate the theoretical model. The results indicate that (1) performance expectancy (e.g., economic benefits, environmental friendliness and safety), effort expectancy (e.g., ease to use, availability and accessibility), social influence (e.g., attitudes of around people and information from society) and perceived risk (e.g., injuries, damages and privacy issues) lead to the formation of trust; and (2) trust has direct and indirect (via TTF) effects on behavioural intention to use autonomous buses. Furthermore, bootstrapping analysis is conducted, and the significance of the mediation effect of TTF is verified. The findings enrich the existing theoretical research on the adoption of autonomous buses and guide the future integration of autonomous buses into the public transportation system.

自动驾驶公交车可以提高公共交通的效率，为发展可持续的机动交通带来巨大好处。要实现自动驾驶公交车在公共交通中的潜力，必须了解公众使用基于新技术的移动概念的意图。因此，本研究综合了三种理论来解释公众使用自动驾驶公交车的意愿，即技术接受和使用统一理论 (UTAUT)、任务技术匹配 (TTF) 理论和信任理论。采用调查工具（n = 277）来验证理论模型。结果表明 (1) 性能预期（例如，经济效益、环境友好性和安全性）、预期努力（例如，易用性、可用性和可及性）、社会影响（例如，周围人的态度和来自社会的信息）和感知到的风险（例如，伤害、损害和隐私问题）导致信任的形成；(2) 信任对使用自动驾驶公交车的行为意向有直接和间接（通过 TTF）影响。此外，还进行了自举分析，验证了 TTF 中介效应的显着性。研究结果丰富了现有关于采用自动驾驶公交车的理论研究，并指导未来将自动驾驶公交车融入公共交通系统。并验证了TTF中介作用的显着性。研究结果丰富了现有关于采用自动驾驶公交车的理论研究，并指导未来将自动驾驶公交车融入公共交通系统。并验证了TTF中介作用的显着性。研究结果丰富了现有关于采用自动驾驶公交车的理论研究，并指导未来将自动驾驶公交车融入公共交通系统。