The emergence of Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs) offers an unprecedented opportunity to reconsider how vehicles and transport systems are designed and begin to address long-standing transport exclusion and inequity. Yet, without early and deliberate consideration of the needs of the whole population, these technologies could perpetuate the transport exclusion already experienced by many or even create entirely new forms of exclusion. This thesis investigates how inclusive design can be applied from the earliest stages of SAV development to ensure equitable access for groups historically marginalised in transport systems, with a focus on exclusion linked to age, disability, and gender. An inclusive design for transport framework was developed, expanding the traditional scope of inclusive design to fully capture the range of groups and types of exclusion experienced within transport. An inclusive design-led, action research approach was utilised to understand and respond to the needs of excluded groups through exploratory and focused co-design workshops with older people, women, and disabled people; expert interviews with vehicle engineers; and industry engagement through surveys and focus groups. These activities identified needs of various excluded groups throughout an SAV journey, including those relating to psychological and interpersonal factors as well as physical, informational, and service-based barriers. Design concepts were developed iteratively in response to these findings, addressing multiple points of exclusion across vehicle architecture, interior layout, exterior design, and information systems. Prototyping in full-scale mock-ups and virtual reality environments enabled participants to evaluate and refine concepts, ensuring feasibility and relevance. The outcome is a single, holistic SAV design configuration capable of serving a broad user base without reliance on specialised vehicles, thereby reducing service-related exclusions caused by limited fleet availability. The thesis makes three principal contributions: 1. A comprehensive, multi-dimensional framework for inclusive design in transport 2. Empirical insights into the mobility needs and barriers experienced by transport-excluded groups in relation to SAVs 3. A set of actionable, industry-relevant vehicle and service design concepts. These outputs provide practical starting points for manufacturers, service operators, and policymakers seeking to ensure the inclusivity of SAV development. By embedding inclusion into the process of designing an SAV, this research demonstrates that it is possible to create vehicles and services that meet the needs of excluded people groups while retaining their utility to the rest of the population. In doing so, it offers a replicable model for the design of future transport systems that are not only technically innovative but also socially inclusive from their inception.

Funder: AHRC (LAHP) [2390387]