Whose Job is Sharing Anyway? A Qualitative Study of Transportation Experts and Stakeholders in Sweden

Book chapter, 2025

This study examines attitudes of Swedish transportation experts and stakeholders regarding Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs) for public transport, juxtaposed with stakeholder perspectives from New South Wales, Australia. Through qualitative interviews with strategists, operators, academics, and regulators, we investigate the factors influencing societal acceptance and readiness for SAVs. The analysis reveals a complex landscape of regulatory environments, cultural readiness, and innovation challenges in public transit, emphasizing the nuanced interplay between technological advancement and societal norms. In Sweden, there is a notable emphasis on collaborative ethos and customer logic, highlighting the importance of aligning individual mobility behaviors with broader environmental objectives. This contrasted with the Australian results, where a deregulated market and the responsibility of transit authorities are seen as catalysts for enhancing mobility options. The study identifies’sharing anxiety’ as a significant barrier to SAV adoption, proposing targeted policy interventions such as promoting dynamic ride-pooling, tax incentives for shared mobility, and the development of standardized interfaces for on-demand transport services. Additionally, the research underscores the challenges of introducing SAVs in rural and sparsely populated areas, advocating for extended pilot programs to culturally establish sharing behavior, especially in areas with strong car dependency. By integrating insights from both Swedish and Australian contexts, this paper offers policy considerations aimed at fostering public acceptance and support for SAVs, contributing to the global discourse on sustainable mobility and the future of public transport.