A vehicle control device that includes a communication unit that is configured to (i) communicate with a mobile device and (ii) receive data including user input that is received at the mobile device; and a processor that is configured to: based on receipt of the data including the user input, determine whether a vehicle with which the mobile device is associated operates in a manual driving mode or an autonomous driving mode and whether the user input received at the mobile device satisfies a preset condition; and based on determinations that the vehicle is in the manual driving mode and that the user input received at the mobile device satisfies the preset condition, switch the vehicle from the manual driving mode to the autonomous driving mode is disclosed.