An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (26) and a steering wheel (22) are mounted on an upper portion (38) of a vehicle steering column (20). The upper portion (38) of the steering column (20) is supported for pivotal movement relative to a lower portion (40) of the steering column (20). A latch member (72) on the steering column (20) is moveable into and out of a locked condition. In its locked condition, the latch member (72) engages the upper and lower portions (38 and 40) of the steering column (20) with each other to block manual pivotal movement of the upper portion (38). An actuator (100) can pivot the upper portion (38) of the steering column (20) automatically when the latch member (72) is in the locked condition. The actuator (100) moves the latch member (72) relative to the lower portion (40) of the steering column (20) to pivot the upper portion ( 38) relative to the lower portion (40) when the actuator (100) is actuated. The actuator (100) is actuated in response to a vehicle condition indicative of a vehicle collision.