Automatic transmission control device

An automatic transmission control apparatus provided with an automatic gearshift mode and a manual gearshift mode, wherein:

• when in the automatic gearshift mode, the automatic transmission control apparatus performs gearshifting automatically based on a relationship between an automatic gearshift line and an operating point, wherein the automatic gearshift line is defined with respect to vehicle speed, and wherein the operating point is determined by a sensed vehicle speed;
• when in the manual gearshift mode, the automatic transmission control apparatus performs gearshifting based on a manual operation of a driver and a relationship between a manual gearshift line and the sensed vehicle speed, and rejects an upshift operation of the driver in a situation where the sensed vehicle speed is lower than or equal to a predetermined vehicle speed, wherein the manual gearshift line is defined with respect to vehicle speed;
• and
• the automatic transmission control apparatus comprises
• a gearshift characteristic change section that changes a gearshift characteristic of an automatic transmission in response to a situation where an accelerator pedal opening is smaller than a predetermined opening, so that downshifting occurs at a higher vehicle speed than in a situation where the accelerator pedal opening is greater than or equal to the predetermined opening;
• and
• a gearshift characteristic change inhibition/permission section, wherein while the manual gearshift mode is being selected, the gearshift characteristic change inhibition/permission section inhibits change of the gearshift characteristic until downshifting is performed once, and permits change of the gearshift characteristic after downshifting is performed once.