WABCO USA plans to triple its employment as it reinvests over $3 million in the distribution portion of its heavy duty truck parts manufacturing and warehousing facility in Hebron, Kentucky.

The company’s investment includes new equipment to enable increased volume and broader distribution of WABCO products throughout the US, Canada and Mexico. Company leaders anticipate work on the project will begin this month and be completed by spring 2020. WABCO currently employs 77 people in Hebron.

“To ensure that our North American customers have seamless access to WABCO’s comprehensive product and service platform, we are dramatically expanding our aftermarket team and product distribution infrastructure in the region. This will result in a superior customer experience for OE service providers, aftermarket parts distributors and fleets,” said Jon Morrison, President, WABCO Americas. “We appreciate the strong support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and look forward to our continued efforts to serve the commercial vehicle industry while supporting economic development in the region.”

WABCO USA is a subsidiary of WABCO Holdings, Inc., whose offices are located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. WABCO operates various business units serving commercial vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators and aftermarket customers. WABCO’s roots date back more than 150 years, when the company operated as Westinghouse Air Brake Co.

The company currently operates 27 manufacturing locations that serve 40 countries around the globe. Products include electronic and active braking systems, aerodynamic and stability systems, suspension systems, transmission automation systems and fleet management systems. WABCO employs approximately 14,200 people worldwide.

“I want to thank WABCO USA for reinvesting in our state and planning to add 123 new, full-time jobs,” Governor Andy Beshear said. “This project speaks to sectors where Kentucky stands out nationally, in both the automotive and distribution-and-logistics industries, and for good reasons. Our central location within North America’s auto manufacturing belt, our experienced workforce and our deep roots in these industries all mean WABCO’s expansion is well placed and will be a boon for Northern Kentucky for years to come.”

To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) on Thursday preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $1.1 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $3 million and annual targets of: Creation and maintenance of 123 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years and paying an average hourly wage of $39 including benefits across those jobs.

By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.In addition, WABCO can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network.