NOVELTY - A catalyst (C1) comprises (wt.%): an active component (0.01-10, based on the weight of metal(s) in elemental state) selected from precious metal(s) of the platinum family, or their combination; a first additive (1-8, based on the weight of oxides) selected from alkali metal oxide(s), and/or alkaline earth metal oxide(s), or their combination; and a second additive (15-99, based on the weight of oxides; 1-99 mole%) selected from cerium dioxide-based composite oxides.    USE - As an autothermal reforming (ATR) catalyst; useful for hydrogen production by reforming fuels such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, and ethers (preferably methane/natural gas, such as in the on-site hydrogen production), to provide a steady and reliable hydrogen source for fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE - The catalyst provides an improved autothermal reforming (ATR) catalyst comprising CeO2-based composite oxide additive having oxygen storage capacity (OSC). This accomplishes effective balance of the oxidation/reduction activity of the catalyst, as the CeO2 has OSC function under oxidation and reduction conditions, and hence can activate the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide (CO) to enhance the catalytic activity; as compared to the prior art ATR catalysts, such as the normally used precious metal catalysts e.g. the Rh/Al2O3 catalyst, which although has advantages over Ni-based and other non-precious metal catalysts in terms of ability to maintain reforming activity, stability, and impact resistance; when used in methane autothermal reforming where the oxidative and reductive atmospheres co-exist, due to insufficient oxidation activity, shows difficulty to accomplish effective balance of the exothermic methane oxidation and the endothermic methane steam reforming reactions on the active site of the catalyst; such that the activity and stability of the catalysts cannot meet the requirements of an ATR process. When a two-member or three-member composite oxide of Ce and another lanthanide and/or another transition metal such Zr is employed as the support of the metals, the transfer of oxygen can be promoted through the interaction between metals; which further activates the hydrocarbon and enhances the performance of the catalyst in oxidation and reduction. Hence, after CeO2 is added to Ni/Al2O3 catalyst, both the activity and coking in methane reforming are remarkably improved. Thus, the addition of the CeO2-based rare earth composite oxide additive into the precious metal catalyst system of for the ATR process, enhances the exchange capacity of the active oxygen in the catalyst, through the interaction between the active component of the precious metal and the CeO2-based rare earth composite oxide; which, in turn, helps to enhance the activity and stability of the catalyst. This also reduces the content of CO in the reformate gas, while maintaining the yield of hydrogen; and allows for application of the catalyst in the fuel processing system to supply hydrogen to fuel cells. With the reduction of CO content in the reformate gas, not only the amount of the catalyst needed for the CO water-gas shift is effectively reduced, but also the heat exchange process of the CO water-gas shift reaction is simplified, so that the entire fuel processing system becomes more efficient and compact. With excellent oxygen storage capacity, the CeO2-based composite oxide material can also promote the occurrence of two side reactions in the methane autothermal reforming reaction such as CO water-gas shift and oxidation of CO to CO2, and further allows for fine tuning and control of the reaction atmosphere through the OSC function of the CeO2-based composite oxide, facilitates the occurrence of the CO water-gas shift and CO oxidation, and effectively reduces CO content in the reformate gas.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for process for making the catalyst (C1) involving: (a) providing a cerium dioxide (CeO2)-based composite oxide material as a catalyst precursor (A1); (b) loading a compound of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal onto the catalyst precursor (A1) of the step (a), followed by drying and calcination, to obtain a catalyst precursor (B1); (c) loading a compound of a precious metal of the platinum family onto the catalyst precursor (B1) of the step (b), followed by drying and calcination, to obtain a catalyst (C1) in the oxidized state; and (d) reducing the catalyst (C1).