Based on the design requirement of 160 kW permanent magnet direct drive synchronous traction motor for metro vehicle, the design difficulties of 160 kW direct drive synchronous traction motor are analyzed. In view of the design difficulties of permanent magnet direct drive motor, the topology structure of the V-shaped permanent magnet rotor of the motor is studied, and is optimized based on Maxwell. Through comparative analysis of motor′s no-load performance and load performance of different V-shaped magnet steel rotor topology structures, the suitables rotor topology structure for the design of the motor is obtained. A prototype is developed and the test results verify the feasibility of the design.