The invention discloses a vehicle path planning method adopting a hybrid potential field-ant colony algorithm. The method comprises the steps that 1, vehicle information and environment information are acquired; 2, through analysis of the vehicle information and the environment information, a virtual potential field force currently borne by a vehicle is obtained, and an improved vehicle virtual potential field force model is established; 3, relevant parameters of the ant colony algorithm are initialized; 4, at an initial stage of path planning, an improved virtual potential field resultant force is introduced into the ant colony algorithm to serve as a heuristic information function, a weight coefficient is introduced, and a transition probability function of the ant colony algorithm is improved; 5, along with deepening of obstacle avoidance path planning, pheromone concentration and distance inspiration jointly play a role, the action of improving the potential field resultant force is lowered gradually, and the improved ant colony algorithm is used for performing path planning; and 6, an electronic control unit controls vehicle speed and a turning angle of a steering wheel according to a path planned in the steps 4 and 5. Through the method, stagnation of a path search process is effectively avoided, and path search efficiency is improved.