VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD AND VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE

A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an exhaust purification catalyst, and an air fuel ratio sensor. The internal combustion engine is structured to be motored by an electric motor generator. The exhaust purification catalyst is structured to purify exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine. The air fuel ratio sensor is located upstream of the exhaust purification catalyst and structured to sense an air fuel ratio. When a quantity of oxygen stored in the exhaust purification catalyst is larger than a reference value, it is determined that inflow of oxygen into the exhaust purification catalyst has an insignificant effect on exhaust performance. Then, fuel injection of the internal combustion engine is stopped, the internal combustion engine is motored, and air fuel ratio learning is performed for learning of a sensed value of the air fuel ratio sensor.