A beam blade windshield wiper assembly including a wiping element and at least one elongated beam. A pair of end caps are operatively mounted to the longitudinal ends of the beam. The end caps include a body and inwardly extending legs that together with the body define a central channel that is adapted to receive the longitudinal ends of the wiping element and the beam. The legs include a retention tab that extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the beam and defines a terminal end. The beam includes a notch that corresponds with the retention tab such that the beam is received in the central channel. The retention tab is biased away from the channel until the terminal end of the tab comes into abutting engagement with the notch such that removal of the end cap is prevented.