Abstract: The present invention provides a permanent magnet rotating electric machine that comprises a stator, into which concentrated wound armature windings are inserted in such a way as to surround a plurality of teeth formed in a stator core, and a rotor having rare earth permanent magnets inserted into a plurality of permanent magnet holes, which are formed in a rotor core and used for accommodating permanent magnets. In this permanent magnet rotating electric machine, the permanent magnets are each shaped like a convex “V” or “U” with respect to the shaft of the rotor. Moreover, a ratio of the width W1 of an interpole core between the permanent magnets to the width Xg of the gap between the stator core and the rotor core is set in such a manner as to satisfy the following condition: 0.8≦W1/Xg≦13.2. Thus, even when this rotating electric machine is driven by a position sensorless inverter in the case of 120 degree energization, the system efficiency is enhanced.