An electric power steering device for automotive vehicles which is capable of minimizing a driver's steering effort. The electric power steering device is designed to perform an automatic steering control. When a steering effort has fallen within a range of steering effort within which the driver is expected to have started to turn a steering wheel intentionally, the automatic steering control is initiated. When the steering effort has been shifted from that range, the automatic steering control is deactivated. This permits the driver's steering effort to be minimized as needed by the driver.