Factors Influencing Attitude and Purchased Intention Toward Electric Vehicles of Chinese Consumers in Shenzhen, China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/shserj.2025.72Keywords:
Environmental Concerns, Subjective Norms, Attitude, Purchase Intention, Electric VehiclesAbstract
Purpose: This research aims to determine the factors influencing Chinese consumers' attitudes and purchase intentions toward electric vehicles in Shenzhen, China. Research design, data, and methodology: This study adopts a quantitative analysis of the electric vehicle flagship stores in three of Shenzhen's most famous shopping plazas to study the factors affecting consumers' attitudes and purchasing intentions toward electric vehicles. The target group of this study is 500 consumers over 18 who have yet to experience purchasing an electric vehicle in Shenzhen, China The sampling method includes judgmental, quota and convenience sampling. The item-objective congruence (IOC) index and Cronbach’s Alpha in a pilot study (n=30) were conducted for validity and reliability testing. The Structural Equation Model (SEM) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used for the data analysis, including model fit, reliability, and validity of the constructs. Results: The results show that environmental concerns, subjective norms, stereotypes, and price sensitivity significantly impact Chinese consumers' attitudes toward electric vehicles and purchase intention in Shenzhen. Conclusions: Six hypotheses were proven to fulfill research objectives. Therefore, it is recommended that businesses and managers understand consumers’ accurate intentions to increase consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions toward electric vehicles.
References
Ackaah, W., Kanton, A. T., & Osei, K. K. (2022). Factors influencing consumers’ intentions to purchase electric vehicles in Ghana. Transportation Letters, 14(9), 1031-1042. https://doi.org/10.1080/19427867.2021.1990828
Aertsens, J., Verbeke, W., Mondelaers, K., & Van Huylenbroeck, G. (2009). Personal determinants of organic food consumption: a review. British food journal, 111(10), 1140-1167.
https://doi.org/10.1108/00070700910992961
Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of Planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-t
Ajzen, I. (1998). Models of human social behavior and their application to health psychology. Psychology and health, 13(4), 735-739. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870449808407426
Ajzen, I. (2012). Perceived behavioral control, self‐efficacy, locus of control, and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32(4), 665-683.
Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behavior (1st ed.). Prentice-Hall.
Alba, J. (1983). The effects of product knowledge on the comprehension, retention, and evaluation of product information. Advances in Consumer Research, 10(1), 577-580.
Allport, F. H. (1954). The structuring of events: outline of a general theory with applications to psychology. Psychological Review, 61(5), 281-303. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0062678
Al-Mamary, Y. H., & Shamsuddin, A. (2015). Testing of the Technology Acceptance Model in Context of Yemen. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2(1), 11-23.
https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4s1p268
Anderson, J. R. (1996). ACT: A simple theory of complex cognition. American psychologist, 51(4), 355-365. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.51.4.355
Awang, Z. (2012). Structural equation modeling using AMOS graphic (1st ed.). Penerbit Universiti Teknologi MARA
Axelrod, R., & Hamilton, W. D. (1981). The Evolution of Cooperation. Science, 211, 1390-1396.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.7466396
Bagozzi, R. P., & Burnkrant, R. E. (1979). Attitude organization and the attitude–behavior relationship. Journal of personality and social psychology, 37(6), 913.
Bennett, R., & Vijaygopal, R. (2018). Consumer attitudes towards electric vehicles: Effects of product user stereotypes and self-image congruence. European Journal of Marketing, 52(4), 499-527. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejm-09-2016-0538
Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107(2), 238-246. https://doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.107.2.238
Bhutto, M. H., Tariq, B., Azhar, S., Ahmed, K., Khuwaja, F. M., & Han, H. (2022). Predicting consumer purchase intention toward hybrid vehicles: testing the moderating role of price sensitivity. European Business Review, 34(1), 62-84. https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-10-2019-0274
Brouwer, S., Krol, B., Reneman, M. F., Bültmann, U., Franche, R.-L., van der Klink, J. J., & Groothoff, J. W. (2009). Behavioral determinants as predictors of return to work after long-term sickness absence: An application of the theory of planned, Journal of Consumer Marketing, 31(5), 391-400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-009-9172-5
Brucks, M. (1985). The effects of product class knowledge on information search behavior. Journal of Consumer Research, 12(1), 10-106. https://doi.org/10.1086/209031
Caruana, R., Carrington, J., & Chatzidakis, A. (2016). Beyond the attitude-behavior gap: novel perspectives in consumer ethics: introduction to the thematic symposium. Journal of Business Ethics, 136(2), 215-218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2444-9
Chen, F. F. (2007). Sensitivity of goodness of fit indexes to lack of measurement invariance. Structural equation modeling: a multidisciplinary journal, 14(3), 464-504.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10705510701301834
Chung, K. C., & Holdsworth, D. K. (2012). Culture and behavioral intent to adopt mobile commerce among the Y Generation: comparative analyses between Kazakhstan, Morocco, and Singapore. Young Consumers, 13(3), 224-241.
Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. (2014). Business research methods (1st ed.). Mcgraw-Hill.
Dash, A. (2021). Exploring visit intention to India for medical tourism using an extended theory of planned behavior. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 4(4), 418-436.
https://doi.org/10.1108/jhti-03-2020-0037
Engel, J. F., Blackwell, R. D., & Miniard, P. W. (1995). Consumer Behavior, 8th Edition, The Dryden Press. Environmental Psychology, 40(1)3, 306-319.
Fauzi, R. U. A., Juliana, J., Djakasaputra, A., Pramono, R., Antonio, F., & Purwanto, A. (2021). The role of attitude, subjective norms and usefulness on e-commerce intention and behavior. Academic Journal of Digital Economics and Stability, 11, 55-72.
Fiske, S. T., Xu, J., Cuddy, A. C., & Glick, P. (1999). (Dis) respecting versus (dis) liking: Status and interdependence predict ambivalent stereotypes of competence and warmth. Journal of social issues, 55(3), 473-489. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00128
Foley, B., Degirmenci, K., & Yigitcanlar, T. (2020). Factors affecting electric vehicle uptake: Insights from a descriptive analysis in Australia. Urban Science, 4(4), 57.
https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci4040057
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50.
https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104
Francis, J., Eccles, M. P., Johnston, M., Walker, A., Grimshaw, J. M., Foy, R., & Bonetti, D. (2004). Constructing questionnaires based on the theory of planned behavior: A manual for health services researchers. Centre for Health Services Research, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Franssonn, N., & Garling, T. (1999). Environmental concern: conceptual defifinitions, measurement methods, and research fifindings. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 19, 369-382.
Gopi, M., & Ramayah, T. (2007). Applicability of theory of planned behavior in predicting intention to trade online: Some evidence from a developing country. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 2(4), 348-360. https://doi.org/10.1108/17468800710824509
Graham-Rowe, E., Gardner, B., Abraham, C., Skippon, S., Dittmar, H., Hutchins, R., & Stannard, J. (2012). Mainstream consumers driving plug-in hybrid electric cars: a qualitative evaluation of responses and evaluations. Transportation Research A, 46(1), 140-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2011.09.008
Greenspoon, P. J., & Saklofske, D. H. (1998). Confirmatory factor analysis of the multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(5), 965-971. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191- 8869(98)00115-9.
Greenwald, A. G., McGhee, D. E., & Schwartz, J. L. (1998). Measuring individual differences in implicit cognition: the implicit association test. Journal of personality and social psychology, 74(6), 1464-1480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.6.1464
Grewal, R., Mehta, R., & Kardes, F. (2000). The role of social identity function of attitudes in consumer innovativeness and opinion leadership. Journal of Economics and Psychology, 21(1), 233-252. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-4870(00)00003-9
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis: A Global Perspective (7th ed.). Pearson Education.
Hansla, A., Gamble, A., Juliusson, A., & Garling, T. (2008). The relationships between awareness of consequences, environmental concern, and value orientations. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 28(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2007.08.004
Hasan, S., & Simsekoglu, Ö. (2020). The role of psychological factors on vehicle kilometer travelled (VKT) for battery electric vehicle (BEV) users. Research in Transportation Economics, 8(2), 100880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2020.100880
Hawkes, C., Demaio, A. R., & Branca, F. (2017). Double-duty actions for ending malnutrition within a decade. The Lancet Global Health, 5(8), 745-746. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(17)30204-8
Higueras-Castillo, E., Kalinic, Z., Marinkovic, V., & Liébana-Cabanillas, F. J. (2020). A mixed analysis of perceptions of electric and hybrid vehicles. Energy Policy, 136(1), 111076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111076
Hini, D., Gendall, P., & Kearns, Z. (1995). The link between environmental attitudes and behavior. Marketing Bulletin, 6(1), 22-31.
Hosany, S., & Martin, D. (2012). Product user self-image congruence and consumer behavior. Journal of Business Research, 65(1), 685-691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.03.015
Hyatt, A. (1992). DePaul Special Collections and Archives collects, preserves, and shares rich primary source materials in support of engaged teaching, active student learning, and scholarly and community research. Richardson Library, 2(1), 1-10.
Insley, V., & Nunan, D. (2014). Gamification and the online retail experience. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 42(5), 340-351.
https://doi.org/10.1108/ijrdm-01-2013-0030
Jaiswal, D., & Kant, R. (2018). Green purchasing behavior: A conceptual framework and empirical investigation of Indian consumers. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 41(1), 60-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2017.11.008
Jayaraman, K., Arumugam, S., Kumar, K. M., & Kiumarsi, S. (2018). Factors influencing the purchase decision of non-national cars in Malaysia: An empirical study. Global Business and Management Research, 10(1), 150-162.
Jiang, S. (2016). Purchase intention for electric vehicles in China from a customer-value perspective. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 44(4), 641-655.
https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2016.44.4.641
Joshi, Y., & Rahman, Z. (2015). Factors affecting green purchasing behavior and future research directions. International Strategic Management Review, 3(1), 128-143.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ism.2015.04.001
Junquera, B., Moreno, B., & Alvarez, R. (2016). Analyzing customer attitudes towards electric vehicle purchasing intentions in Spain: technological limitations and vehicle confidence. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 109, 16-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.05.006
Kim, D., Ko, J., & Park, Y. (2015). Factors affecting electric vehicle sharing program participants’ attitudes about car ownership and program participation. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 36, 96-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2015.02.009
Kim, Y., & Choi, S. M. (2005). Antecedents of green purchase behavior: an examination of collectivism, environmental concern, and PCE. Transport and Environment, 36, 96-106.
Kumar, R. R., & Alok, K. (2020). Adoption of electric vehicle: A literature review and prospects for sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 25(3), 119-211.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119911
Lee, K. (2009). Gender differences in Hong Kong adolescent consumers' green purchasing behavior. Journal of consumer marketing, 26(2), 87-96. https://doi.org/10.1108/07363760910940456
Li, J., Liu, F., & Rojas-Méndez, J. I. (2013). How international students select offshore programs: The influence of image, attitude, subject norm, and perceived behavioral control. Asia Pacific Education Review, 14(3), 381-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-013-9265-x
Liébana-Cabanillas, F., Sánchez-Fernández, J., & Muñoz-Leiva, F. (2014). Antecedents of the adoption of the new mobile payment systems: The moderating effect of age. Computers in human behavior, 35, 464-478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.03.022
Liu, H., Sato, H., & Morikawa, T. (2015). Influences of environmental consciousness and attitudes to transportation on electric vehicle purchase intentions. Asian Transport Studies, 3(4), 430-446.
Mau, D., & Woisetschläger, D. M. (2018). Determining Relevant Factors in Purchasing Electric Vehicles for Fleets. Sustainability, 13(21), 117-219. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72724-0_3
McCright, A. M., Xiao, C., & Dunlap, R. E. (2014). Political polarization on support for government spending on environmental protection in the USA. Management Review, 21, 125-134.
McGarty, C., Yzerbyt, V. Y., & Spears, R. (2002). Stereotypes as explanations: The formation of meaningful beliefs about social groups. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1(1), 1-15.
Mishra, S., & Malhotra, G. (2019). Is India ready for e-mobility? An exploratory study to understand e-vehicles purchase intention. Theoretical Economics Letters, 9(2), 218-376. https://doi.org/10.4236/tel.2019.92027
Mitchell, R., Schuster, L., & Drennan, J. (2017). Understanding how gamification influences behavior in social marketing. Australasian Marketing Journal, 25(1), 12-19.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ausmj.2016.12.001
Mulcahy, R., Russell-Bennett, R., & Rundle-Thiele, S. (2015). Electronic games: can they create value for the moderate drinking brand? Journal of Social Marketing, 5(3), 258-278. https://doi.org/10.1108/jsocm-06-2014-0043
Niedrich, R. W., Weathers, D., Hill, R. C., & Bell, D. R. (2009). Specifying price judgments with range–frequency theory in models of brand choice. Journal of marketing research, 46(5), 693-702. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkr.46.5.693
Noor, N. M., Noranee, S., Zakaria, M. F., Unin, N., & Suaee, M. A. H. M. (2020, February). Online shopping: The influence of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control on purchase intention. Proceedings of the 2020 the 6th International Conference on E-Business and Applications, 33-36.
Notani, A. S. (1998). Moderators of perceived behavioral control's predictiveness in the theory of planned behavior: A meta-analysis. Journal of consumer psychology, 7(3), 247-271.
https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327663jcp0703_02
Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Pagiaslis, A., & Krontalis, A. K. (2014). Green-consumption behavior antecedents: Environmental concern, knowledge, and beliefs. Psychology & Marketing, 31, 335-348.
https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.20698
Paul, J., Modi, A., & Patel, J. (2016). Predicting green-product consumption using theory of planned behavior and reasoned action. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 29, 123-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2015.11.006
Pedroso, R., Zanetello, L., Guimarães, L., Pettenon, M., Gonçalves, V., Scherer, J., Kessler, F., & Pechansky, F. (2016). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the Crack Use Relapse Scale (CURS). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), 43(3), 37-40. https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-60830000000081
Ramayah, T., Lee, J. W. C., & Mohamad, O. (2010). Green product purchase intention: Some insights from a developing country. Resources, conservation, and recycling, 54(12), 1419-1427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.06.007
Sathiyan, S. P., Pratap, C. B., Stonier, A. A., Peter, G., Sherine, A., Praghash, K., & Ganji, V. (2022). Comprehensive assessment of electric vehicle development, deployment, and policy initiatives to reduce GHG emissions: opportunities and challenges. IEEE Access, 10, 53614-53639.
https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2022.3175585
Shalender, K., & Sharma, N. (2021). Using extended theory of planned behaviors (TPB) to predict adoption intention of electric vehicles in India. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(1), 665-681. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00602-7
Sharma, G. P., Verma, R. C., & Pathare, P. (2005). Mathematical modeling of infrared radiation thin layer drying of onion slices. Journal of Food Engineering, 71(3), 282-286.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2005.02.010
Sica, C., & Ghisi, M. (2007). The Italian versions of the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory-II: Psychometric properties and discriminant power. In M. A. Lange (Ed.), Leading-edge psychological tests and testing research (pp. 27-50). Nova Science Publishers.
Tsai, Y., Chang, H., & Ho, K. (2015). A study of the relationship among brand experiences, self-concept congruence, customer satisfaction, and brand preference. Contemporary Management Research, 11(2), 97-116. https://doi.org/10.7903/cmr.12970
Varah, F., Mahongnao, M., Pani, B., & Khamrang, S. (2021). Exploring young consumers’ intention toward green products: applying an extended theory of planned behavior. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(6), 9181-9195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-01018-z
Vongurai, R. (2022). Key Drivers of Operational Performance of E-commerce Distribution Service Providers in Thailand. Journal of Distribution Science, 20(12), 89-98.
https://doi.org/10.15722/jds.20.12.202212.89
Wang, X., Pacho, F., Liu, J., & Kajungiro, R. (2019). Factors influencing organic food purchase intention in developing countries and the moderating role of knowledge. Sustainability, 11(1), 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010209
Wang, X. W., Cao, Y. M., & Zhang, N. (2021). The influences of incentive policy perceptions and consumer social attributes on battery electric vehicle purchase intentions. Energy Policy, 151, 112-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112163
Wang, Z., Zhao, C., Yin, J., & Zhang, B. (2017). Purchasing intentions of Chinese citizens on new energy vehicles: How should one respond to current preferential policy?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 161, 1000-1010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.05.154
Warshaw, P. R. (1980). A new model for predicting behavioral intentions: An alternative to Fishbein. Journal of marketing research, 17(2), 153-172. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378001700201
Wu, J.-H., & Wang, Y.-M. (2006). Measuring KMS success: A respecification of the DeLone and McLean's model. Information & Management, 43(6), 728-739.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2006.05.002
Wu, W., Hsiao, H., Wu, P., Lin, C., & Huang, S. (2011). Investigating the learning theory foundations of game-based learning. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 28(3), 265-279. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2011.00437.x
Yadav, R., & Pathak, G. S. (2016). Young consumers’ intention towards buying green-products in a developing nation: Extending the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Cleaner Production, 135(1), 732-739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.120
Yang, Y., Asoud, Y., & Dwivedi, Y. (2017). Examining the impact of gamification on intention of engagement and Brand attitude in the marketing context. Computers in Human Behavior, 73, 459-469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.03.066
Yzerbyt, V. Y., Schadron, G., Leyens, J. P., & Rocher, S. (1994). Social judge ability: The impact of meta-informational cues on the use of stereotypes. Journal of Personality and Social psychology, 66(1), 48-55. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.66.1.48
Zhang, L., Cude, B. J., & Zhao, H. (2020). Determinants of Chinese consumers’ purchase intentions for luxury goods. International Journal of Market Research, 62(3), 369-385.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Pan Zhiming

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The submitting author warrants that the submission is original and that she/he is the author of the submission together with the named co-authors; to the extend the submission incorporates text passages, figures, data, or other material from the work of others, the submitting author has obtained any necessary permission.
Articles in this journal are published under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY What does this mean?). This is to get more legal certainty about what readers can do with published articles, and thus a wider dissemination and archiving, which in turn makes publishing with this journal more valuable for you, the authors.

