A vehicle seat assembly includes an air bag arrangement having an inflatable air bag, and a guide disposed proximate the air bag arrangement for facilitating deployment of the air bag. The assembly further includes a seat cushion attached to the guide, and a cover material overlaying the seat cushion, the guide and the air bag arrangement, wherein the cover material includes first and second sections. A retainer is connected to the guide and the first and second sections of the cover material. Upon inflation of the air bag, portions of each of the guide and the retainer are configured to move away from each other to allow the air bag to deploy between the first and second sections of the cover material.