A drive axle for a light vehicle having a chain drive and a differential is provided, wherein the axle pinion gears (11, 12) are connected to their half-axles (6, 7) in one piece and to the vehicle via fixed bearings (8, 8′). One of the half-axles (6) is made as a tube which receives an inner shaft (13) in a journaled manner which is fixedly plugged in the other half-axle (7). The differential cage (22, 22′) is partly spherical and surrounds the balance pinion gears (20) and is fixedly connected to a chain sprocket (25). The differential cage comprises two symmetrical shells (22, 22′) between which the chain sprocket (25) is directly fastened to the balance pins.