This study proposes a novel hierarchical nonlinear proportional-integral fast terminal sliding mode (HNLPIFTSM) control for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) speed regulation system. A new type of sliding surface called HNLPIFTSM surface, which combines the benefits of a nonlinear proportional-integral (PI) sliding mode surface and a fast terminal sliding mode (FTSM) surface, is proposed to enhance the robustness and improved the dynamic response, whilst preserving the great property of the conventional hierarchical fast terminal sliding mode (HFTSM) control strategy. The proposed HNLPIFTSM surface uses the novel nonlinear PI sliding mode surface as its inner loop and uses the FTSM surface as its outer loop. Meanwhile, an extended state observer (ESO) is used to estimate the uncertain terms of the PMSM speed regulation system. Furthermore, the stability of the closed-loop control system under the ESO and the HNLPIFTSM control strategy is proved by the Lyapunov stability theorem. Finally, the simulations and experimental demonstrations verify the effectiveness and superiorities of our proposed HNLPIFTSM control strategy over the conventional HFTSM control strategy.