To prevent unfavorable reduction in engine speed or deterioration in accelerating performance immediately after braking when switching from an automatic gear change mode to a manual gear change mode in such a state that braking operation is performed in a change gear for vehicles equipped with a continuously variable transmission.

When switching from the automatic gear change mode to the manual gear change mode during the braking operation, the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is automatically increased. When manual down-shifting is further performed when continuing to carry out the braking operation, the speed of advance of the manual down-shifting is raised temporarily.