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 . <EOS>