An automatic sliding door apparatus has a speed-change detecting element for detecting a change in the driving speed of a slide motor above a predetermined value as well as a pressure sensitive sensor disposed in a front end portion of a door panel, and the detecting of a foreign object is effected by the pressure sensitive sensor in regions other than a region in which the door panel slides at a fixed speed. Accordingly, the detecting of a foreign object is made possible in a region where the detecting of a foreign object is difficult in the detection of a change in speed by the speed-change detecting element. Moreover, since the detecting of a foreign object based on a change in speed is not effected in the regions other than the region in which the door panel slides at the fixed speed, it is possible to set to a higher level a reference value in speed change of the speed-change detecting element which determines that the door panel has received a reaction force of pressing from a foreign object in the region where the door panel moves at the fixed speed. The sensitivity can also be enhanced as a result.