A two speed gear box including a casing that is rotatably supported by a central planetary gear carrier. The two speed gear box further includes a central mounted planetary gear assembly with a ring gear controlled by a low speed clutch and a sun gear controlled by a high speed clutch that cooperate to provide three modes of operation for the output shaft with respect to a drive axle. The three modes of operation include a neutral mode, a high speed mode and a low speed mode. Selective engagement and disengagement of the low speed and high speed clutches provide for selection of one of the modes of operation.