Control device and control method for a vehicle, and storage medium

A control method for a vehicle which is equipped with an automatic transmission and capable of automated driving control for automatically controlling at least acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle, wherein

• when an increase in a required driving force is predicted during the execution of the automated driving control, a vehicle speed of the vehicle is maintained or decelerated until an increase timing of the required driving force;
• an engine rotation number is increased within a standby period until the increase timing of the required driving force;
• and
• a torque of the engine is decreased in response to the increase in the engine rotation number, and a shift gear level of the automatic transmission is shifted downward.

A storage medium storing a program, which causes a processor to function as a control device for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission and capable of automated driving control for automatically controlling at least acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle, and the program realizes, by the processor, the following function that

• when an increase in a required driving force is predicted during the execution of the automated driving control, a vehicle speed of the vehicle is maintained or decelerated until an increase timing of the required driving force;
• an engine rotation number is increased within a standby period until the increase timing of the required driving force;
• and
• a torque of the engine is decreased in response to the increase in the engine rotation number, and a shift gear level of the automatic transmission is shifted downward.