A camera compact module installation method and a mobile platform are provided, and are used for autonomous driving or intelligent driving. The method includes: installing a camera compact module on a mobile platform, where the camera compact module is parallel to a ground on which the mobile platform is located. The camera compact module includes a lens group and an image sensor, and the lens group includes at least one lens. A projection of a center of the lens group on a plane of the image sensor is a first position. A distance between the first position and a center of the image sensor is greater than a first threshold, and the first threshold is greater than 0. In this way, because the camera compact module can be parallel to the ground on which the mobile platform is located, it can be ensured that a motion direction is perpendicular to the plane of the image sensor. This can improve accuracy and robustness of camera motion estimation, to reduce a target positioning error. In addition, a required detection range can be met without tilting the camera compact module for installation. The method may be applied to the internet of vehicles, for example, vehicle-to-everything V2X, long term evolution-vehicle LTE-V, or vehicle-to-vehicle V2V.