In a promising sign of San Francisco’s resilient tech ecosystem, Motive, an AI-powered vehicle fleet management startup, is set to occupy a significant portion of the former Twitter headquarters at 1355 Market Street.

The company will initially take over 25,000 square feet of the massive 460,000-square-foot complex, which has been largely vacant since Elon Musk’s dramatic downsizing and relocation of the social media platform. This strategic move signals potential recovery for the mid-Market area, which has experienced notable commercial real estate challenges since 2020.

Motive, founded in 2013, specializes in an innovative “all-in-one fleet management and driver safety platform” that leverages artificial intelligence to track vehicle logistics and driver performance. Previously headquartered in Yelp’s former SoMa office space, the company is now expanding into this iconic tech landmark.

The sublease represents less than 10% of the building’s total space, with Xitter (formerly Twitter) still technically holding the lease. This comes after a complex legal history involving Musk’s attempts to avoid rent payments, which was ultimately settled with landlord Shorenstein Properties.

Real estate experts note that office tour traffic in the mid-Market area is finally showing signs of revival, potentially indicating a gradual economic recovery for San Francisco’s tech corridor. Motive’s expansion represents more than just a real estate transaction – it’s a testament to the city’s ongoing innovation and adaptability.

As San Francisco continues to navigate post-pandemic economic shifts, moves like Motive’s demonstrate the city’s persistent appeal to forward-thinking technology companies committed to pushing technological boundaries.