General Motors is planting a new software engineering flag in downtown Seattle, planning to lease space in West8, the revamped 28‑story tower that once housed a big chunk of Amazon’s local workforce. The move is meant to put GM closer to the region’s cloud and infrastructure talent as the automaker pushes more in‑house software for its electric and autonomous vehicles. Company officials have not yet said when employees will move in or how large the Seattle team will be.
The arrangement was first reported by the Puget Sound Business Journal, which says GM is leasing space in West8 and wants to tap into the Puget Sound region’s deep cloud and infrastructure expertise. That reporting also frames the deal as part of GM’s broader effort to grow its vehicle‑software and infrastructure teams outside the company’s traditional engineering hubs.
West8’s makeover and location
West8, at 2001 8th Ave in the Denny Triangle, was repositioned by Kilroy Realty after Amazon vacated much of the tower. The building now advertises amenities such as a rooftop deck and on‑site childcare to help lure new tenants. Recent coverage notes that Kilroy has been marketing the tower to professional‑services and engineering firms and recently signed a large lease with Foster Garvey, a sign that downtown landlords can still land credit‑worthy occupants. The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce has tracked West8’s refresh and leasing wins.
GM’s software push
GM has been steadily expanding its software operations and recently hired an infrastructure executive to help build out a Seattle presence. MarkLines reported that the company brought on an executive to unify infrastructure and digital‑products engineering and to help stand up a Seattle hub. That move, along with a run of postings for engineering roles, suggests GM will recruit locally as it staffs the new office. Recent roles tied to GM’s engineering teams have appeared on local recruitment sites such as Built In Seattle.
What this means for downtown
If it is finalized, a GM lease would be a notable win for West8 and a reminder that some large tenants are still willing to bet on downtown office space after several soft years in leasing. Kilroy’s own filings describe West8’s repositioning and occupancy trends, underscoring why landlords are chasing a mix of tenants instead of relying on single massive anchors. See the supplemental filing from Kilroy Realty and local coverage on recent leasing wins at West8 from Hoodline for additional context on leasing and vacancy dynamics.
GM’s Seattle outpost will also serve as a signal to brokers and city officials about where non‑traditional engineering hubs can land in the metro area. More concrete details, including square footage, lease term and a staffing timeline, are likely to surface in public filings and job boards as brokers and GM roll out formal announcements. For now, local reporting and listings on sites like Built In Seattle and the Puget Sound Business Journal remain the best early places to watch for updates.
