Automakers oppose Cleveland-Cliffs push to buy U.S. Steel

A group representing major automakers on Tuesday said the industry opposes steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs' proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel Corp., saying it would increase auto industry costs and slow electric vehicle sales.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing General Motors, Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen Group, Hyundai Motor Co., in a letter to Congress and U.S. regulators cited the combined steel companies' dominant market share for steel used to produce vehicle structural frames, for automotive surface panels like doors, hoods and fenders, as well as steel used for electric vehicle (EV) motors.

The letter from Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella said a merger would "increase costs across the industry for both materials and finished vehicles," and noted 100 percent of the metal for EV motors known as e-steel would be concentrated in the combined company.

"Without competition in the U.S. for the production of e-steel, automakers face an increase in the cost of materials which could ultimately increase the cost of finished EVs for customers," the letter to lawmakers said.

The letter, which was also sent to Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan and Justice Department Antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter, said the "government should examine the potential for anti-competitive pricing of materials used by steel-reliant automotive manufacturers."

Neither steel company immediately responded to requests for comment.

U.S. Steel in August rejected Cleveland-Cliff's proposed $7.25 billion price. Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves last week during an earnings call declined to discuss the issue, citing restrictions.

In August, U.S. Steel said it had entered into confidentiality agreements with "numerous third parties" and started to review multiple unsolicited proposals ranging from partial acquisition to an entire buyout.