Aiming at the speed control of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM), a nonlinear predictive control (NPC) strategy based on reduced order load torque observer is proposed. In the speed loop control law, the load torque is considered as the disturbance value. The reduced order load torque observer is combined with the generalized predictive control strategy. The estimated torque value is used to replace the actual value. Simulation and experimental results show that the control strategy proposed can effectively achieve speed tracking. Compared with the traditional PI control, the overshoot is smaller, the speed approaching to stability is faster, the anti-interference ability is stronger, and the robustness of the speed loop is higher.