Abstract: A drive shaft for motor vehicles comprises shaft portions arranged one after the other in s longitudinal direction of the drive shaft. One shaft portion is a tubular shaft portion having a large cross section and another shaft portion having a cross section that is smaller than the tubular shaft portion having a large cross section. A transition region having a region wall is provided between the tubular shaft portion and the shaft portion having the smaller cross section. If the drive shaft is compressed in the event of a crash, the shaft portion having the smaller cross section is pushed into the tubular shaft portion having the large cross section by an insertion length, thus deforming or breaking the region wall of the transition region.

Abstract: A drive shaft for motor vehicles comprises shaft portions arranged one after the other in s longitudinal direction of the drive shaft. One shaft portion is a tubular shaft portion having a large cross section and another shaft portion having a cross section that is smaller than the tubular shaft portion having a large cross section. A transition region having a region wall is provided between the tubular shaft portion and the shaft portion having the smaller cross section. If the drive shaft is compressed in the event of a crash, the shaft portion having the smaller cross section is pushed into the tubular shaft portion having the large cross section by an insertion length, thus deforming or breaking the region wall of the transition region.

Abstract: A method for producing a tubular drive shaft is described, comprising a first section with a first diameter and a second section with a second diameter, said second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, and a transition section in which a diameter of said drive shaft diminishes from the first diameter to the second diameter and which is provided with an annular bead which coaxially surrounds a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft, and in the process of which method, a tube with the first diameter is reshaped and reduced in diameter to form the second section and the transition section. According to the invention it is provided that the bead is formed during, after, or during a break in the reshaped process that results in the production of a second section with a second diameter.