August 28

On August 28, 1898, North Carolina pharmacist Caleb Bradham officially changed the name of his soda from 'Brad’s Drink' to 'Pepsi-Cola.' The new brand highlighted pepsin and kola nut extracts, marketing the beverage as a digestive aid. Early franchising of bottling rights helped Pepsi-Cola spread throughout the Southeastern United States. Despite early financial downturns, the company persevered and emerged as a major rival to Coca-Cola. The 1898 rebranding laid the groundwork for a century of innovation in flavor, marketing, and global distribution. Pepsi’s evolution into a multinational corporation exemplifies American branding success.

On August 28, 1937, the vehicle manufacturing division of Toyota Industries was spun off to form Toyota Motor Company. Under Kiichiro Toyoda's leadership, the new company focused on mass production and innovation in automotive design. Its first major success was the Model AA sedan, proudly built as Japan's first mass-produced passenger car. Toyota introduced rigorous quality control methods that would later evolve into the Toyota Production System. This independence allowed for dedicated research and expansion into commercial vehicles and exports. The spin-off laid the foundation for Toyota's rise as a leading global automaker known for efficiency and reliability.