Proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cell　(PEMFC)　systems　have　been　used　in　fuel　cell　vehicles　as　the　main　power　source.　The　cathode　air　mass　flow　rate　regulation　for　the　automotive　fuel　cell　has　a　vital　influence　on　the　dynamic　characteristics　of　the　system.　The　sufficient　feeding　of　air　can　avoid　the　oxygen　starvation　and　prevent　the　service　life　degradation　of　the　proton　exchange　membrane.　According　to　the　air　supply　system　model,　typical　linearization　points　are　selected　to　linearize　and　obtain　the　state-space　equations.　Aiming　at　tracking　the　desired　air　mass　flow　rate　of　the　PEMFC　system,　the　backstepping　sliding　mode　controller　with　parameters　adaptive　adjustment　is　developed　to　realize　the　air　feeding　control.　Moreover,　the　output　current　of　the　automotive　PEMFC　under　the　urban　dynamometer　driving　schedule　(HDDS)　driving　condition　is　used　to　test　the　air　mass　flow　rate　response　and　the　stability　of　the　presented　controller.　The　simulation　results　show　that　the　developed　controller　can　maintain　the　air　mass　flow　rate　tracking　error　at　about　0.0003　kg/s　by　manipulating　the　air　compressor,　and　the　relative　error　of　the　oxygen　excess　ratio　(OER)　is　within　4%.　©　2021　IEEE