US begins investigation of ArcelorMittal complaint over high-strength aluminium coated steel patents violation

On Monday, May 20, the United States International Trade Commission notified that it started investigating a complaint filed by ArcelorMittal related to the violation of patents by Vietnamese automaker VinFast. 

According to ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturing corporation, VinFast has breached the former’s high-strength aluminium and aluminium alloy-coated steel patents in its vehicle VF 8.

Reportedly, ArcelorMittal also lodged a complaint with the ITC in April and filed a lawsuit in US District Court in California, accusing VinFast of violating patents. 

Prior to that, ArcelorMittal sent a letter to VinFast asserting it was violating its patents. ArcelorMittal said it believes that VinFast also contravened the patents for its VF3, VF 6, VF 7, and VF 9 models. 

To determine the infringement, ArcelorMittal purchased a VinFast VF8 vehicle in May 2023 and tested it as part of a patent violation suit.

However, after a sequence of complaints and lawsuits, VinFast has yet to respond to a request for comment. The company started delivering its sport utility vehicle (SUV) VF8 in California in 2023, and now plans to open its first manufacturing plant in North Carolina by 2025, which will produce VF 8 and VF 9 models.