A remote control method for an autonomous vehicle includes: a central control device receives a remote control request message sent by a vehicle; detects a driving operation of a control person on the simulated cockpit; generates an instruction for simulating a driving operation according to the driving operation of a control person on the simulated cockpit, where the instruction for simulating a driving operation is used to simulate the driving operation of the control person on the simulated cockpit; and sends a remote control message to the vehicle. A remote control apparatus for an autonomous vehicle is also related.