he German light four-wheel drive armored vehicle Sd.Kfz.222 was used for reconnaissance and staff service. It was developed by Eisenwerk Weserhütte of Bad Oeynhausen. Chassis were built by Auto Union in Zwickau and assembled by F. Schichau of Elbing and Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen in Hannover-Linden. It used the standard sPkw I Horch 801 (heavy car) chassis with an angled armoured body and turret. A total of 989 vehicles were produced during 1936 to 1943.

Light two-axis armored vehicles were mostly in the complement of Wehrmacht tank divisions. They took part in Polish and French campaigns, and then in "Barbarossa" operation. The light armored cars were used effectively by the German African Corps. However, the armored cars were hampered by its limited tactical mobility in the conditions of Russian bad roads.