The purpose of this thesis is to develop a PMSM motor drive for direct-drive elevator application. In performing the analysis and design of control strategies, a simulation environment based on Simulink is built-up firstly. To facilitate the studies performed in this thesis, a microprocessor-based vector control PMSM motor drive is constructed. Then the configuration and characteristics of elevator are overviewed. Suitable control methods are also established and fully digitally implemented by assembly language in the microprocessor-based drive. In this thesis, a speed estimation method for motor is presented to improve the low speed performance of the traction motor as well as to let the passengers of elevator be more comfortable. Besides, how to increase the output voltage utilization of motor drive is investigated. Then a third-harmonic voltage injected method, and a over-saturated current control method are proposed to fulfill the voltage requirement of drive. Finally, some experimental results have confirmed the validity of the proposed methods in the motor drive for direct-drive elevator application.