An automotive door system comprising: a door; a hinge configured to support the door; a switch configured to provide a first input in response to a user request to automatically open or close the door; a power drive module including: a housing; a motor; a gearbox (34,36) operatively coupled to the motor by a shaft member; an output shaft operatively connected to the door and the gearbox (34,36), the output shaft configured to provide an output torque that corresponds to a desired motion of the door about the hinge; and a brake assembly operatively connected to the shaft member, the brake assembly having a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing, wherein the brake assembly includes an open position, the brake assembly being in the open position in a door closing mode and a door opening mode, the shaft member configured to be rotatable relative to the housing in the open position, the brake assembly including a holding torque in the normally closed position, and being configured such that a torque applied to the brake assembly above the holding torque permits the shaft member to rotate in either direction; a position sensor configured to detect rotation of the output shaft and to provide a second input in response thereto, the second input corresponding to a manually initiated movement of the door pivoting about the hinge that exceeds the holding torque of the brake assembly in the normally closed position. a door; a hinge configured to support the door; a switch configured to provide a first input in response to a user request to automatically open or close the door; a power drive module including: a housing; a motor; a gearbox (34,36) operatively coupled to the motor by a shaft member; an output shaft operatively connected to the door and the gearbox (34,36), the output shaft configured to provide an output torque that corresponds to a desired motion of the door about the hinge; and a brake assembly operatively connected to the shaft member, the brake assembly having a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing, wherein the brake assembly includes an open position, the brake assembly being in the open position in a door closing mode and a door opening mode, the shaft member configured to be rotatable relative to the housing in the open position, the brake assembly including a holding torque in the normally closed position, and being configured such that a torque applied to the brake assembly above the holding torque permits the shaft member to rotate in either direction; a position sensor configured to detect rotation of the output shaft and to provide a second input in response thereto, the second input corresponding to a manually initiated movement of the door pivoting about the hinge that exceeds the holding torque of the brake assembly in the normally closed position. a housing; a motor; a gearbox (34,36) operatively coupled to the motor by a shaft member; an output shaft operatively connected to the door and the gearbox (34,36), the output shaft configured to provide an output torque that corresponds to a desired motion of the door about the hinge; and a brake assembly operatively connected to the shaft member, the brake assembly having a normally closed position in which the shaft member is grounded to the housing, wherein the brake assembly includes an open position, the brake assembly being in the open position in a door closing mode and a door opening mode, the shaft member configured to be rotatable relative to the housing in the open position, the brake assembly including a holding torque in the normally closed position, and being configured such that a torque applied to the brake assembly above the holding torque permits the shaft member to rotate in either direction; a position sensor configured to detect rotation of the output shaft and to provide a second input in response thereto, the second input corresponding to a manually initiated movement of the door pivoting about the hinge that exceeds the holding torque of the brake assembly in the normally closed position.