Hybrid electric vehicles combine an internal combustion engine and one electric motor that also acts as a generator. This paper describes the use of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) for hybrid vehicles showing their distinct advantages over other types of motors such as induction or variable reluctance. It also shows the evolution of which can be considered as the best example of this type of engines for the Toyota Prius, which since 2000 the market leader in this type of vehicle with sales of over 2,000,000 units throughout the world.