A shield removal assembly for an autoinjector comprising a syringe barrel, a needle, and a needle shield at least partially surrounding the needle, the shield removal assembly comprising: a cap remover configured to be grasped by a user and having a proximal end and a distal end , the distal end of the cap remover comprising at least one opening therethrough; and a retainer received within the cap remover and having a proximal end and a distal end , the retainer comprising at least one grasping feature configured to engage at least one complementary grasping feature of the needle shield, and the distal end comprising an opening therethrough; wherein the shield removal assembly is configured such that the needle shield of the autoinjector can be advanced through the shield removal assembly from a first position in which the at least one grasping feature is spaced longitudinally and located proximally of the at least one complementary grasping feature of the needle shield to a second position in which the at least one grasping feature engages the at least one complementary grasping feature of the needle shield; wherein the retainer comprises at least one radially-extending protrusion , and the cap remover comprises at least one window configured to receive the radially-extending protrusion , and characterized in that the retainer is axially moveable with respect to the cap remover, and in that the retainer comprises at least one protrusion ; and the cap remover comprises at least one shoulder longitudinally spaced from the at least one protrusion of the retainer , such that the cap remover is moved longitudinally away from the syringe a set distance before the at least one shoulder engages the at least one protrusion . a cap remover configured to be grasped by a user and having a proximal end and a distal end , the distal end of the cap remover comprising at least one opening therethrough; and a retainer received within the cap remover and having a proximal end and a distal end , the retainer comprising at least one grasping feature configured to engage at least one complementary grasping feature of the needle shield, and the distal end comprising an opening therethrough; wherein the shield removal assembly is configured such that the needle shield of the autoinjector can be advanced through the shield removal assembly from a first position in which the at least one grasping feature is spaced longitudinally and located proximally of the at least one complementary grasping feature of the needle shield to a second position in which the at least one grasping feature engages the at least one complementary grasping feature of the needle shield; wherein the retainer comprises at least one radially-extending protrusion , and the cap remover comprises at least one window configured to receive the radially-extending protrusion , and characterized in that the retainer is axially moveable with respect to the cap remover, and in that the retainer comprises at least one protrusion ; and the cap remover comprises at least one shoulder longitudinally spaced from the at least one protrusion of the retainer , such that the cap remover is moved longitudinally away from the syringe a set distance before the at least one shoulder engages the at least one protrusion . <EOS>