Attention and attitudes of Chinese social media users towards autonomous vehicles: sentimental, statistical and spatiotemporal perspectives

In recent years, autonomous driving technology has progressed rapidly, promising to transform current transportation systems significantly and attracting growing public attention. Previous studies have predominantly relied on interviews and surveys to examine public perceptions of autonomous vehicles (AVs), which come with inherent limitations. This study utilizes a substantial dataset of 616,355 samples from Sina Weibo, one of China’s most prominent social media platforms, to examine variations in statistical, temporal, spatial, and emotional dimensions to gain insights into the Chinese populace’s perceptions and sentiments towards AVs. From 2015 to 2023, public attention and engagement have steadily risen, with individual users representing the largest group interested in AVs. Among individual users, males and young adults (aged 18–30) have demonstrated heightened interest. Attention levels are particularly pronounced in economically developed regions such as Beijing, Guangdong, and Shanghai. Overall, the public attitude towards AVs is positive; however, there has been a significant rise in negative sentiment since 2020, primarily related to concerns about safety and technological reliability. Based on public attention, this study also discusses potential challenges and corresponding strategies. These insights gained will aid automobile manufacturers, technology firms, and public agencies in addressing emerging challenges and facilitating the development of AVs.