Latest News

Car manufacturers urge White House to oppose US Steel sale to Cleveland-Cliffs

A group representing major car manufacturers on Friday advised the White House to oppose any effort by steelmaker ClevelandCliffs to buy rival U.S. Steel, alerting that an offer might lead to anticompetitive rates for automobiles.

A consolidation of the two business would also position 65 to 90% of steel utilized in automobiles under the control of a single company, Alliance for Automotive Development CEO John Bozzella stated in a letter, which was initially reported .

President Joe Biden stated previously this month that U.S. Steel, which has consented to be bought by Japan's Nippon Steel for $14.9 billion, need to remain a domestically-owned U.S. firm. Cleveland-Cliffs has stated it would think about another bid for U.S. Steel if the handle Nippon Steel falls apart.

If the administration has concerns about the Nippon Steel deal, it needs to seriously consider alternative outcomes, stated the letter from the group, which represents General Motors , Toyota Motor Corp, Volkswagen, Hyundai and others. One option that must not be on the table is an arrangement that creates a market concentration of domestic steel production in a single business.

The White Home, Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel did not immediately comment on the letter.

A combination of U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs would control 100% of the domestic electrical steel (e-steel) needed for electrical car (EV) motors and EV production, the automaker group said in its letter.

It warned that a deal could drive up the cost of both steel and e-steel, and eventually increase the expense of finished automobiles (consisting of EVs) for American customers.

The group wrote Congress, the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Justice Department in October to

raise its concerns

about a tie-up, pointing out concerns about steel used to produce lorry structural frames, vehicle surface area panels like doors, hoods and fenders, and EV motors.

(source: Reuters)