A knee bolster, disposed within the instrument panel of an automotive vehicle, for absorbing energy from impact with the knees of an occupant of the automotive vehicle, the knee bolster assembly comprising a skin defining a show surface of the instrument panel, an inner panel secured to the skin, the inner panel including at least one male portion protruding therefrom in a direction away from the skin, at least one energy absorbing structure extending in a direction away from the inner panel, the energy absorbing structure having portions defining at least one recess therein, the male portions of the inner panel being received within the recess of the energy absorbing structures in a non-contacting alignment.