An electric motor (1) has a stator (2) and a radially symmetric, permanent magnet excited rotor (4) coaxial with the stator (2). The rotor (4) rotates relative to the stator (2) about a common motor axis (X). The stator (2) has a radially symmetric iron core (6) with a defined number (N) of stator teeth (10) which are each adjacent to one another via stator slots (8) and slot openings (8a) in the circumferential direction. The rotor (4) has pole magnets (14) adjacent to one another. A circumferential gap (18) is formed radially between the pole magnets (14) and the stator teeth (10). Each stator tooth (10) has on its surface (20) facing the gap (18) and adjacent to the slot openings (8a) on both sides in the circumferential direction a relief-like topographic region (22) radially enlarging the gap (18) with least one concave recess (24) and a smooth profile.