Abstract.To improve the dynamic performance of permanent magnet synchronous motor(PMSM) drive system, a adaptive nonsingular terminal sliding model control((NTSMC) strategy was proposed. The proposed control strategy presents an adaptive variable-rated exponential reaching law which the L1 norm of state variables is introduced. Exponential and constant approach speed can adaptively adjust according to the state variables' distance to the equilibrium position.The proposed scheme can shorten the reaching time and weaken system chatting. The method was applied to the PMSM speed servo system, and compared with the traditional terminal-sliding-mode regulator and PI regulator. Simulation results show that the proposed control strategy can improve dynamic, steady performance and robustness.