By Laurie Chen, Michael Martina BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -When the leaders of some of the world's largest companies flocked to Beijing for a business forum last month, their main purpose was a coveted meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Thanks for reading Hyperdrive, Bloomberg’s newsletter on the future of the auto world. As the global car industry descended on Shanghai last week for China’s premier auto show, attendees of an event organized by electric-car maker Zeekr took in sweeping views of the city’s skyline from the rooftop of the landmark Peace Hotel.