Drive device for a closure element of a motor vehicle

A drive apparatus for a closure element of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive apparatus comprises a drive train with two drive sections, each comprising a drive connection, wherein the drive sections are linearly movable with respect to each other in order to generate linear drive movements between the drive connections along a geometric axis between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein an end stop is provided in order to limit the drive movement between the drive connections to the extended position, wherein the end stop has end stop faces movable toward each other on the drive sections and a damping device which, during a drive movement into the end stop, damps the drive movement in a manner which is dependent on its speed, wherein the damping device has a damping element which, during the drive movement, is plastically deformable by an axial impact of the end stop faces on each other or on an intermediate element, wherein the plastically deformable damping element is an axially fixed, radially outwardly facing projection of a train component of the one drive section.