A CANopen-based data transmission gateway changeover method includes: making an active gateway go alive, and mutually monitoring heartbeat packet status together with a standby gateway over an active-standby gateway communications network; keeping the active gateway alive and recording a breakdown of the standby gateway if no heartbeat packet of the standby gateway is detected within a preset heartbeat period and a heartbeat packet of the active gateway is successfully transmitted on the active-standby gateway communications network; requesting the standby gateway to go alive if the heartbeat packet of the active gateway fails to be transmitted on the active-standby gateway communications network; stopping requesting the standby gateway in a first in-vehicle communications network to go alive, and requesting the standby gateway to go alive; and keeping the active gateway alive and recording a breakdown of the standby gateway if still no response is received from the standby gateway.