A drive apparatus for sewing machines including a forepart and a motor shaft horizontally projecting out of the forepart is provided with a sleeve releasably secured to the motor shaft; a rotor disposed on the sleeve; and a motor assembly including a housing having an axial passage with the sleeve rotatably disposed through, an inner space disposed on an end of the housing proximate the forepart, and a stator set disposed in the inner space. The rotor is disposed in the inner space. The rotor, the sleeve, and the motor shaft are co-rotated.