Dave Gardner began his new job as American Honda Motor Co.’s executive vice president and business unit head of automotive sales in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. On arrival in Los Angeles last month, the former CEO of Honda Canada went into quarantine.
Gardner’s days are filled with figuring out the next stage in American Honda’s recovery in the U.S. after a relatively good sales showing in May — with hopes for some level of normality by July or August. The recovery equation involves watching production levels coming out of Honda’s North American factories to match dealer needs for inventory.
