DRIVE UNIT AND DRIVE MODULE

A drive unit 20 includes a speed reducer 12 that includes a plurality of gears having helical teeth and rotatably supported by bearings, and transfers rotation of a drive motor 11 to rear drive wheels 15 of a vehicle. The maximum value of torque to be generated by the drive motor 11 during rearward travel of the vehicle is set to be lower than that during forward travel. Under such a precondition, the size of a bearing that receives a load during rearward travel, among the bearings which constitute the speed reducer, is smaller than the size of a bearing that receives a load during forward travel.