Mitsubishi announced that they will close their US production facility in Normal, Illinois after failing to find a suitable buyer.

The Japanese company wants to control its losses over declining sales in North America and a strong US dollar, according to Reuters.

“We have given up looking for an automaker to buy the plant, but we are looking for possible buyers from other industries,” said a Mitsubishi spokesman.

A report suggests that Mitsubishi is expected to book heavy losses of between 20 billion yen and 30 billion yen ($169 million to $254 million) in the fiscal year but the spokesman refused to comment.

The production facility used to build the Outlander Sport but the production run ended last November, with 1000 workers losing their jobs. Mitsubishi says that the plant will continue to produce car parts up until May, when the remaining 250 workers will also see the exit.

Mitsubishi has said in the past that they will focus their production in Japan, Southeast Asia and Russia, after closing their plant in Netherlands in 2012.

PHOTO GALLERY