This paper deals with the input-output modeling of a vector controlled PMSM drive system and design of a simple multiple model adaptive control (MMAC) scheme with desired transient responses. We present a discrete-time modeling technique using closed-loop identification that can experimentally identify the equivalent models in the d-q coordinates. A bank of linear models for the equivalent plant of the current loop is first obtained by identifying them at several operating points of the current to account for nonlinearity. Based on these models, we suggest a simple q-axis MMAC combined with a fixed d-axis controller. After the current controller is designed, another equivalent model including the current controller in the speed control loop shall be similarly obtained, and then a fixed speed controller is synthesized. The proposed approach is demonstrated by experiments. The experimental set up consists of a surface mounted PMSM (5 KW, 220V, 8 poles) equipped with a flywheel load of 220kg and a digital controller using DSP (TMS320F28335).