An electric machine has at least two pairs of carbon brushes made up of one plus and one minus carbon brush, which interact with a commutator in order to supply current to the rotor, the carbon brushes being mounted with their brush holder on a brush plate via a mount, and the mounts on the brush plate lying across from each other at 180°. The holding part on at least one brush holder is offset from the center, in particular from the axis of symmetry of the brush holder, by an angle relative to the rotor axis so as to realize an asymmetrical placement of the carbon brush, the holding part on the other brush holders being disposed on their axes of symmetry.