A method for implementing shifts from a source gear to a target gear of an automatic shift transmission includes storing a respective upshift threshold and a respective downshift threshold for each possible sequential gear shift. The respective upshift threshold and the respective downshift threshold are defined in dependence of an accelerator pedal position, such that a limit value that is valid for a respective upshift or downshift is stored as a vehicle speed value in a control device. The vehicle speed that changes while the motor vehicle is driving and a changing accelerator pedal position are measured. Downshifts are simplified for a driver by configuring at least two downshift thresholds to be substantially horizontally extending in a first region of a possible accelerator pedal position and at least partly step-shaped in a second region of the possible accelerator pedal position.