A drive unit assembly, comprising: one or more first motors; a first shaft having a first end portion, a second end portion, an inner surface, an outer surface and a hollow portion therein; wherein at least a portion of said one or more first motors are drivingly connected to at least a portion of said first end portion of said first shaft; a planetary gear assembly comprising a sun gear, one or more planetary gears and a ring gear and a carrier; wherein at least a portion of said sun gear is drivingly connected to at least a portion of said second end portion of said first shaft; wherein at least a portion of said carrier is drivingly connected to at least a portion of said one or more planetary gears of said planetary gear assembly; a differential assembly input member drivingly connected to at least a portion of said carrier; a differential assembly drivingly connected to at least a portion of said differential assembly input member; a first axle half shaft drivingly connected to at least a portion of said differential assembly and at least partially disposed within said hollow portion of said first shaft; and a second axle half shaft drivingly connected to at least a portion of said differential assembly; and an axle connect and disconnect device; characterised in that at least a portion of said axle connect and disconnect device is integrally connected to said carrier of said planetary gear assembly and said differential input member; and wherein said axle connect and disconnect device selectively connects and disconnects said differential assembly from driving engagement with said one or more motors. one or more first motors; a first shaft having a first end portion, a second end portion, an inner surface, an outer surface and a hollow portion therein; wherein at least a portion of said one or more first motors are drivingly connected to at least a portion of said first end portion of said first shaft; a planetary gear assembly comprising a sun gear, one or more planetary gears and a ring gear and a carrier; wherein at least a portion of said sun gear is drivingly connected to at least a portion of said second end portion of said first shaft; wherein at least a portion of said carrier is drivingly connected to at least a portion of said one or more planetary gears of said planetary gear assembly; wherein at least a portion of said sun gear is drivingly connected to at least a portion of said second end portion of said first shaft; wherein at least a portion of said carrier is drivingly connected to at least a portion of said one or more planetary gears of said planetary gear assembly; a differential assembly input member drivingly connected to at least a portion of said carrier; a differential assembly drivingly connected to at least a portion of said differential assembly input member; a first axle half shaft drivingly connected to at least a portion of said differential assembly and at least partially disposed within said hollow portion of said first shaft; and a second axle half shaft drivingly connected to at least a portion of said differential assembly; and an axle connect and disconnect device; characterised in that at least a portion of said axle connect and disconnect device is integrally connected to said carrier of said planetary gear assembly and said differential input member; and wherein said axle connect and disconnect device selectively connects and disconnects said differential assembly from driving engagement with said one or more motors.