That looks very much as if it has been made by welding 2 short sections of square ( ish ) tube onto the round shaft.
The square sections are then placed into each end of a longer section of matching profile tube.
The top of the assembly fully welded with the bottom section left with the ability to slide ( colapse ) in the event of a frontal impact.
Very similar way as the Sierra reach adjust set up in which a triangular section is used in the upper section of the column.
With a little luck that'll all make sense
