Six HWP employees have lost their jobs after the company brought an end to more than 50-years of providing the Island’s residents with the means to get around.The company will sell its last bike on Wednesday after selling its cycle division to World Distributors Ltd, who will now become the authorised dealer for Honda and Piaggio motorcycles in Bermuda.However, the new owners are expected to raise their staffing levels in order to handle the increased business and both firms have said they will be working together to ‘help redundant employees secure new employment’.“Both companies will be actively working together to help redundant employees secure new employment,” said Jonathan Brewin, president and CEO of HWP Group. “I would like to thank these employees for their years of service to HWP Group. Our key priority right now is to assist them in finding alternative employment as swiftly as possible.”Mr Brewin said the decision to sell ‘was not an easy one’, but pointed to the effects of last year’s fire, and a steep decline in sales, as the driving force behind the decision.“With the loss sustained from last year’s fire, we had to be strategic about our business and decided that we needed to focus on our core business of automotive sales and after sales including parts and service as well as our service stations on St John’s Road and East Broadway,” he said.“We’ve been in business with Honda motorcycles and Piaggio for over 50 years and it was very important to us that we nominated a successor that would represent these brands well.“We’ve been working in conjunction with Eugene (Bothello, president of World Distributors) to ensure a smooth transition and we are confident that World Distributors will continue to offer the best service and after sales platform for Honda and Piaggio in purpose-built facilities.”Mr Bothello said he was excited about the growth in his company’s business, which will see them expand their product line to include Honda, Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia, Derbi, Gilera and Yamaha brands. In addition, World Distributors will be offering after sales, parts and service for Honda and Piaggio.“We’re excited to grow our product offering,” he said. “The combination of quality products and stellar service from highly experienced staff will continue to be the cornerstone of our business.”“Consolidation is key in this shrinking market. Cycle sales have decreased 30 percent in Bermuda since 2006 and, in order to remain viable, we have had to look at creative strategies to grow our business in the current deteriorating market conditions.”All warranties for customers who purchased a bike at HWP Group will be honoured at World Distributors.“This is just the beginning for us,” said Mr Bothello. “In addition to the largest cycle showroom in Bermuda with about 4,000 sq ft of product display, we will be unveiling exciting new plans for retailing.”The car and bike industry has been facing hard times over the last several years with the last few months seeing a double-digit decline in sales. According to the Retail Sales Index for January 2012, gross receipts of motor vehicle retailers fell 29.3 percent. There were 38 fewer cars sold in January 2012 compared to the same month in 2011; however, there were 24 more motorcycles sold in January 2012 that helped offset the dip in sales for this sector.This follows the December sales numbers which saw the industry’s sales fall 34 percent compared to December 2010 with 41 fewer cars sold and 18 fewer bikes.HWP has struggled since a fire destroyed the company’s body and paint shop and showrooms on St John’s Road, Pembroke in August last year. Three weeks after the blaze, HWP laid off 21 employees.World Distributors is located at 32 North Street in Hamilton across from TCD. For more information call 295-2329.