WABCO Holdings Inc., a global innovator and supplier of technologies that improve the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicles, has announced proposals to cease manufacturing operations at two production facilities in Western Europe to preserve the company’s global competitiveness for certain mechanical products.

On Sept. 23, WABCO presented proposals, in accordance with local labor laws and practices, to cease manufacturing at its facilities in Meppel, the Netherlands, and Claye-Souilly, France. These proposals would result in a total reduction of workforce of approximately 320 positions. Pending the outcome of the formal processes, production could cease at the Meppel facility by the second half of 2016, and at the Claye-Souilly plant in the second half of 2017, with production being transferred to other facilities within WABCO’s globally integrated supply chain.

“Alongside harnessing the substantive benefits of globalization, WABCO continues to take necessary steps to maintain a competitive cost structure, particularly for mechanical products,” said Jacques Esculier, WABCO chairman and CEO. “A further enabler of WABCO’s differentiation and competitiveness is rooted in the capabilities and productivity of our robust global manufacturing network.”