A vehicle multi-speed automatic transmission which comprises an input shaft (AN) and an output shaft (AB); first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4); at least third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth rotatable shafts (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8); and first, second, third, fourth and fifth shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E) whose selective engagement, in combinations of three engaged shifting elements, defines different gear ratios, between the input shaft (AN) and the output shaft (AB), for implementing eight forward gears and at least one reverse gear. When shifting from one forward gear into a successive higher or lower forward gear, only a single one of the first, the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth shift elements is disengaged and only a single one of the first, the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth shift elements is engaged.