The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a prominent analysis approach. Although it is applicable for simulation and optimization of electrical machines, FEM is a very time-consuming technique. One of theapproaches to shorten the optimization runtime is the use of surrogate models instead of FEM. In this paper, the design and optimization of an outer rotor permanent magnet synchronous motor for ahybrid vehicle are investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) with four input variables is integrated with a sequential quadratic programming algorithm for optimization. Before the optimization,the performance of the surrogate model in the prediction of untried points is validated. Finally, the optimal motor is simulated by FEM to verify the results of RSM-based optimization, and the outputsof both models are compared.Metoda končnih elementov (FEM) je eden boljših pristopov analize. Čeprav je FEM uporabna za simulacijo in optimizacijo električnih strojev, je pa zelo zamudna tehnika. Eden od pristopov za skrajšanje trajanja optimizacije je uporaba nadomestnih modelov namesto FEM. V prispevku je raziskano načrtovanje in optimizacija sinhronskega motorja s trajnim magnetom zunanjega rotorja za hibridno vozilo. Metodologija odzivne površine (RSM) s štirimi vhodnimi spremenljivkami je integrirana z algoritmom zaporednega kvadratnega programiranja za optimizacijo. Pred optimizacijo je bila uspešnost nadomestnega modela pri napovedovanju neizkušenih točk potrjena. Končno FEM simulira optimalni motor, da preveri rezultate optimizacije na osnovi RSM in primerja izhode obeh modelov
