Autoweb buys car-info site.

Autoweb.com, an Internet car-shopping service, agreed to buy the automotive-data unit of Canada_s Thomson for $20 million in cash and stock to add services such as repair guides to its site. Autoweb agreed to pay $16 million in cash and $4 million in common stock for Automotive Information Center. The Westborough, Massachusetts-based unit will continue as a separate operation under its current management, Autoweb said. Automotive Information Center provides new-car pricing information online, descriptions of standard and optional equipment, and repair and trouble-shooting guides. The purchase will improve Autoweb_s database and help it attract more people to its site, said chief executive Dean DeBiase. Rival Autobytel.com in July agreed to buy the publisher of Chilton auto-repair manuals for $17.5 million to offer customers a way to price auto repairs.Through yesterday, the Santa Clara, California-based company_s shares had fallen 78 percent since its March initial public offering, as automakers and dealership groups have moved into e-commerce.