An approach to increase acceptance of automated vehicles (AVs) using emotional eyes of AVs for pedestrian-AV interaction is presented. In an online survey conducted in Germany with 245 participants, key design dimensions for an abstract emotional eye design and the acceptance of AVs expressing Ekman’s six basic emotions in pedestrian-AV interactions were examined. Results show that the design dimensions of shape, color and motion enhance emotion recognition in abstract eye designs, with specific dimensions being more effective for certain emotions. While Disgust is the least, Anger and Happiness are the most accepted emotions of AVs by pedestrians. Beyond the attitudes toward AV-expressed emotions studied here, the findings indicate that emotionalizing AVs influences pedestrians’ affective and behavioral outcomes in interactions, warranting further studies in more ecologically valid settings.