Abstract: An electromagnetic two-stage clutch for the driving of units, especially refrigerant compressors in motor vehicles. The clutch includes electromagnets and a drive disk. The drive disk is adapted to be frictionally engaged by driving a shaft of the unit with the aid of electromagnets through armature disks, selectively, by two pulleys of differing diameters. The pulleys are connected with a counter pulley by way of V-belts. The drive disk is mounted in a supported fashion in a neck of the unit and is arranged between the two pulleys. One pulley is supported on the outside or outer surface of the neck of the unit.