An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels, the apparatus comprising: a steering column having a pinion connected with a vehicle steering wheel such that rotation of the steering wheel results in rotation of the pinion; an electrically powered steering unit comprising: an electric motor having a first output shaft rotatable about an axis; a first planetary gear stage having a first gear reduction ratio and driven by the first output shaft; a second planetary gear stage driven by the first planetary gear stage and the pinion and having a second gear reduction ratio different from the first gear reduction ratio; and a second output shaft driven by the second planetary gear stage and coupled to the steerable wheels such that rotation of the second output shaft affects steering of the vehicle wheels, wherein each of the first and second planetary gear stages (80, 100) comprises: a sun gear (82, 102) rotatable about the axis; planetary gears (84, 104) in meshed engagement with the sun gear (82, 102) and orbiting the sun gear (82, 102) while rotating in response to rotation of the sun gear; and a carrier (86, 106) connected to the planetary gears (84, 104) and rotatable about the axis; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a gear in meshed engagement with the pinion and rotatable with the carrier of the first planetary gear stage for transferring torque from the steering wheel to the carrier of the first planetary gear stage. a steering column having a pinion connected with a vehicle steering wheel such that rotation of the steering wheel results in rotation of the pinion; an electrically powered steering unit comprising: an electric motor having a first output shaft rotatable about an axis; a first planetary gear stage having a first gear reduction ratio and driven by the first output shaft; a second planetary gear stage driven by the first planetary gear stage and the pinion and having a second gear reduction ratio different from the first gear reduction ratio; and a second output shaft driven by the second planetary gear stage and coupled to the steerable wheels such that rotation of the second output shaft affects steering of the vehicle wheels, wherein each of the first and second planetary gear stages (80, 100) comprises: a sun gear (82, 102) rotatable about the axis; planetary gears (84, 104) in meshed engagement with the sun gear (82, 102) and orbiting the sun gear (82, 102) while rotating in response to rotation of the sun gear; and a carrier (86, 106) connected to the planetary gears (84, 104) and rotatable about the axis; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a gear in meshed engagement with the pinion and rotatable with the carrier of the first planetary gear stage for transferring torque from the steering wheel to the carrier of the first planetary gear stage. an electric motor having a first output shaft rotatable about an axis; a first planetary gear stage having a first gear reduction ratio and driven by the first output shaft; a second planetary gear stage driven by the first planetary gear stage and the pinion and having a second gear reduction ratio different from the first gear reduction ratio; and a second output shaft driven by the second planetary gear stage and coupled to the steerable wheels such that rotation of the second output shaft affects steering of the vehicle wheels, wherein each of the first and second planetary gear stages (80, 100) comprises: a sun gear (82, 102) rotatable about the axis; planetary gears (84, 104) in meshed engagement with the sun gear (82, 102) and orbiting the sun gear (82, 102) while rotating in response to rotation of the sun gear; and a carrier (86, 106) connected to the planetary gears (84, 104) and rotatable about the axis; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a gear in meshed engagement with the pinion and rotatable with the carrier of the first planetary gear stage for transferring torque from the steering wheel to the carrier of the first planetary gear stage. a sun gear (82, 102) rotatable about the axis; planetary gears (84, 104) in meshed engagement with the sun gear (82, 102) and orbiting the sun gear (82, 102) while rotating in response to rotation of the sun gear; and a carrier (86, 106) connected to the planetary gears (84, 104) and rotatable about the axis; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a gear in meshed engagement with the pinion and rotatable with the carrier of the first planetary gear stage for transferring torque from the steering wheel to the carrier of the first planetary gear stage.