A permanent magnet rotor includes at least one permanent magnet and a rotor core including a first end and a second end. The rotor core includes a plurality of permanent magnet openings that are each configured to receive a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet rotor also includes a first rotor end lamination coupled to the first rotor core end. The first rotor end lamination includes a plurality of inner lamination walls defining a first lamination opening and a second lamination opening circumferentially adjacent the first lamination opening. At least one inner lamination wall includes at least one permanent magnet retention feature configured to secure the permanent magnet within a corresponding permanent magnet opening. The at least one permanent magnet retention feature includes at least one tab extending radially from at least one of the plurality of inner lamination walls within the first rotor end lamination.