A drive axle, in particular an industrial truck drive axle, has an electric motor (2), a differential (4) of a traction drive, which differential is oriented coaxially with the electric motor, and a planetary gear set (3) that is connected between the electric motor (2) and the differential (4). To reduce the effort and expense required to construct the drive axle, the electric motor (2) can be connected in a drive connection by means of a coupling device (5) that is in an operative connection with the planetary gear set (3), with the traction drive, and/or with a work drive. The electric motor (2) can thereby feed a work drive alternatively or in addition to the traction drive.