AXLE ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE

An axle assembly for a vehicle includes a banjo axle housing having a central portion that defines a receiving space, a first beam that extends from the central portion in a first axial direction and that defines a first beam hollow in communication with the receiving space, and a second beam that extends from the central portion opposite the first beam in a second axial direction and that defines a second beam hollow in communication with the receiving space. The axle assembly further includes an electric drive unit housed within the banjo axle housing and having a motor disposed within the receiving space that drives rotation of a rotor shaft, a first half shaft that extends within the first beam hollow, and a second half shaft that extends within the second beam hollow. The rotor shaft, the first half shaft, and the second half shaft are coaxially aligned.