A method for predicting a rotor temperature of an electric motor for an electric vehicle. The method includes measuring at least one of an operating parameter of the electric motor; inputting the at least one of the operating parameter of the electric motor into a predetermined regression model to predict a rotor temperature of the electric motor; and communicating the rotor temperature of the electric motor to a vehicle control module for managing the electric motor. The operating parameters includes a measured stator temperature, a torque level output, a rotor speed, and a coolant flowrate of the fixture electric motor. The electric motor may be that of an induction motor.