Effects of the duct inlet guide vane on the flowrate distribution characteristics of the defroster nozzle exit in a defrost duct system were investigated experimentally to design the optimum heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system applied in an automotive compartment. A 3-dimensional hot-wire anemometer system was used to measure the velocity field in the vicinity of the defroster nozzle jet flow and the velocity distributions near the windshield interior surface. At first, two cases of with- and without-duct inlet guide vanes were considered as the test condition, and then three cases of the duct inlet guide vane were tested to determine the optimum guide vane shape and their positions. The arrangement of the duct inlet guide vanes has an effect on the improved flowrate distribution at the defroster nozzle exit and near the windshield interior surface. However, the application of the lots of guide vane to control the flow direction leads to increase the flow resistance, resulting in the decreased flowrate issuing from the defroster nozzle. The shape of the duct inlet guide vane affects not only the flowrate distribution between the driver side and the assistant driver side but also the reduction of the flow resistance in the defrost duct system.